In the context of the psychosomatic theories of the École de Paris, the author reflects on the notions of imago and the capacity for regression. The example of the psychotherapy of a child in the latency period presenting primary food selection behaviour shows how the process has to contend with the power of an archaic maternal imago and with fixations impeding any regression that might lead to the formation of representations. These impediments are in part overcome when the setting is modified, introducing a technique associating drawing for the child and the writing of a narrative text for the therapist. Session extracts show the formation of representations of both the oral conflict and the destructiveness associated with the imago. Taking up P. Marty’s work on the ideal-ego, the author puts forward the hypothesis of the narcissistic character of the imago acting as a possible bulwark against the risk of psychosomatic disorganization, while limiting the at the same time therapeutic regression and progression.