Lispectar clínico: uma articulação entre a prática clínica em Psicologia e a obra de Clarice Lispector

Abstract

This thesis connects the work of Clarice Lispector with clinical practice in psychology, proposing a dialogue centered on listening and presence in the therapeutic context. This articulation is presented through a dynamic and open space on social media created by the author, named “@lispectar_clinico.” The creation of the verb lispectar, inspired by Lispector’s last name, expresses a continuous movement of awakening to listen to life and establishing a relationship of obedience with it, drawing inspiration from one of Lispector’s own stories. The notion of obedience, explored etymologically from Latin (obaudire, to listen in order to obey) and German (gehorchen and abhorchen), reveals listening as the foundation for openness to the other. This concept supports the thesis that clinical practice is born from what is heard, making listening a practice requiring genuine attention and dedication, free from impersonal “chatter”. The claricean atmosphere is presented as an invitation to a form of listening that preserves the void and the unexpected, allowing life to unfold. Clarice, through her writing, exemplifies an act of obedience to what traverses her, offering the reader the possibility of encountering themselves. In the clinical field, lispectar is described as a posture of active and living listening that transforms what is heard into action and verb. The aim is to explore elements that enhance this listening and presence in therapeutic practice, creating an atmosphere where life can emerge and be embraced. In Chapter 1, the author reflects on her trajectory as a psychologist, including the impact of her encounter with Clarice Lispector’s work and its influence on clinical practice and research. Chapter 2 addresses hesitation and emptiness as essential aspects of a method that takes shape within clinical practice itself, illustrated through the narrative of the author’s first case. Chapter 3 explores how Clarice Lispector’s literature, with its openness to the mystery of life, offers insights into the therapist’s listening and responses, while introducing @lispectar_clinico, a virtual space for engaging with “life as it is lived.” Finally, Chapter 4 analyzes the short stories “Os obedientes” (“The Obedient”) and “Perdoando Deus” (“Forgiving God”) and the novel Uma aprendizagem ou O livro dos prazeres (An Apprenticeship or the Book of Delights), addressing the overcoming of the fear of being human and the transmutation of pain into joy. This chapter highlights listening and obedience as pathways to transformation. This work advocates for clinical practice grounded in attentive listening and a living presence, drawing inspiration from the work of Clarice Lispector to embrace the complexity of life and allow it to unfold in its full potential. Furthermore, it proposes a vibrant and artisanal clinical approach (Quadros, 2021), where therapist and patient cocreate pathways, respecting the rhythm and cadence of the human encounter.