The initial response of several patients to the news that I would be moving to another part of the country is discussed. All the affects of mourning and experiences of early object loss in fantasy and/or reality which lead to feelings of helplessness were painfully relived. In the safety of the analytic situation the patient can experience these painful affects in full force without being overwhelmed, and through appropriate and well-timed interpretations, especially transference interpretations, control and ego strengthening can be gained. By focusing on the dangers and conflicts that produced the painful affects and accompanying state of helplessness and the subsequent pathological defences in the past, the ego, in appropriate cases, is able to adapt and master the current reality and move on to further maturation and development.

Therefore a move of the analyst that interrupts an analysis prematurely can become one of those 'special events' that at times intrude into the analysis, but which can be used effectively to further analytic progress.