The work of the analytic process encompasses more than a “talking cure.” In addition to semantic, language-based communications, complex, non -verbal factors—emotions, actions and inter-affectivity—are involved. These take place unconsciously—individually, between and within both participants—and can only be intermittently tracked in a provisional sense—most often in retrospect.

I will present detailed clinical material in an attempt to show some of the surface markers of a slow, labyrinthine movement that took place over many years, involving both analyst and patient and eventuating in the analyst's formulation of the presumptive understanding of a patient's action and joint enactment—the reduction of the number of sessions per week. The narrative behind this formulation reflects the impact of emotional experiences and events in the life of the analyst that seem to be related to and salutary for his work with this patient.