Trauma and the Zero Process

Presented by Joseph Fernando

The concept of the zero process, as a form of mental functioning distinct from the primary and the secondary processes, is proposed. This new concept is approached through a look at the ambiguity and confusion in Freud's work about trauma and the traumatic process. It is argued that Freud at times conceptualized the traumatic process and its sequelae as phenomena distinct from other psychic processes, while at other times, such as in his concept of traumatic anxiety, he conflated trauma and other processes. A brief clinical vignette demonstrating aspects of the zero process will be presented. The key characteristic of the zero process is that, because experiences are not processed as they occur in trauma, its contents remain in a frozen state, with no further movement or processing. The unprocessed perceptions, affects, and impulses during trauma form the core of the zero process. The work of therapy with the zero process involves construction. That is, we foster belated processing of these quasi-perceptual zero process memory fragments, so that they come to have more of the qualities of regular memory, which can be scanned back and forth, put aside, repressed, distorted, and integrated with other memories to form the person's life history.

Open to TPS members, CPS members, guests of the TPS, and candidates of the TIP and the ATPPP.