Comment

The article Psychological consultation as a transformative first clinical experience by Fabio Vanni and Silvia Bertoli explores the importance of the psychological consultation as an initial encounter between therapist and patient, unique and personalised with transformative potential. The authors pose crucial questions on how to welcome the individual’s singularity, the suffering they bring and, at the same time, articulate a personalised and relational rather than protocol-based treatment proposal. The importance of the mutual presence of those involved is emphasised and how this can lead to a co-construction of care strategies. The consultation is not only an opportunity for the suffering individual, but also a moment of reflection for the therapist, leading to a shared and personalised experience. While appreciating the effort and originality of the two authors’ proposal, one wonders whether and to what extent considering consultation as a transformative experience, puts the relationship at the centre, obscuring and losing sight of the subject and the possibility he/she has of accepting his/her suffering as a specific element of the life process and as an opportunity to be present to him/herself.