This paper takes as its vantage point the idea that clinical observation is never free from preconceptions. An implicit listening-perspective organizing the analyst's understanding is always present. However, due to contemporary theoretical pluralism, there is no longer consensus as to what are core concepts in psychoanalytic practice. The analyst of today has to model his own listening-perspective. The author describes a listening-perspective which gives priority to the following 5 aspects of clinical material: (1) affect; (2) object; (3) scenario; (4) self; (5) psycho-sexual stamp. A clinical vignette is presented to illustrate how these 5 aspects contribute, closely interacting, to the analyst's understanding. Finally, issues of a principle kind, prompted by this listening-perspective are discussed.