Pre- and Peri-conceptional and Prenatal Psychology: Early Memories and Preverbal Approaches

Abstract

As an aspect of prenatal psychology, pre- and peri-conceptional psychology illuminates pre-, intra-, and post-conceptional processes with a focus on the first 3 months of pregnancy. There are three main events of concern: conception, nidation, and the moment of recognition when the mother first realizes her pregnancy. Therapeutic experience shows that the metaphors of religious and mythological narrations, especially those that typically accompany rituals of initiation, reappear in the protocols of clients who go through processes related to conception and nidation.

The core of these processes of illumination is base-introjects. These are introjects that were ingested between conception and birth. They constitute a part of a person’s “character” until they are resolved or passed on to the next generation. Most often, they are related to trauma involving the last three generations in the family system, to parental trauma, and to social-psychological stressors that occurred during pregnancy. They are introjected and have a decisive impact on the development of a personality.

To support these body-psychotherapeutic processes, a variety of adjunctive therapeutic methods can be beneficial, such as dance, music, and art therapy, meditation, and others. It is crucial that they be psychotherapeutically embedded and include proper professional preparation and follow-up.