Nonverbal Behaviors in the Analytic Situation: The Search for Meaning in Nonverbal Cues

Two extended clinical examples are offered to show the value of attending to nonverbal behaviors in the analytic situation. Such kinesics may be highly charged transference actualizations that lead to the recovery of early memories. The material is viewed primarily from the theoretical standpoint of separation-individuation dynamics. The author argues that nonverbal phenomena should not be viewed as inferior to verbal communications or as less central to analytic work. (PLR)