Being discovered by the M/Other

Authors

  • Yael Harel

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30820/0743-4804-2025-35-163

Keywords:

mother/embryo, discovery/being discovered, known/unknown, invitation/isolation, therapeutic connection

Abstract

This paper delves into the intricate early stages of development through the unique perspective of experiences. It draws on a diverse range of disciplines, such as embryology, psychology, and philosophy, as well as the realms of imagination and metaphor, to seek a deeper understanding of this period. Building on Emerson and Tery’s concept of the impact of pregnancy discovery on the fetus/embryo (1980, 2006), this paper emphasizes the shared nature of experience between the mother and the fetus/embryo. It claims that the process of being discovered by the m/other, can be characterized by the potential for both development and change as well as the potential for trauma. The interplay between the mother and embryo, the known and unknown, the temptation to arise versus dismissal and isolation are all central themes.

Author Biography

Yael Harel

Yael Harel is Movement Therapist (M.A.), International Trainer in Bioenergetic Analysis, and the head of the training program in Bioenergetic Analysis in Israel. Yael is a member of the management team and a supervisor of the Psychoanalytic Arts program at the Winnicott Center in Israel. She operates a private clinic in Bet Halevi, Israel.
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How to Cite

Harel, Y. (2025). Being discovered by the M/Other. Bioenergetic Analysis, 35(1), 163–191. https://doi.org/10.30820/0743-4804-2025-35-163

Issue

Vol. 35 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Articles

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This license allows private use and unmodified distribution, but prohibits editing and commercial use (further information can be found at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). The terms of the Creative Commons licence only apply to the original material. The reuse of material from other sources (marked with a reference) such as charts, illustrations, photos and text extracts may require further permission for use from the respective copyrights holder.