1. NOSTALGIA – WHERE WE COMENOSTALGIA – WHERE WE COME
FROM AND WHERE WE GO TO –FROM AND WHERE WE GO TO –
THE MEANING OF HOMETHE MEANING OF HOME
Joanna KatoJoanna Kato
psychologist, Gestalt therapist,psychologist, Gestalt therapist,
supervisor, trainersupervisor, trainer

2. ProsfigikaProsfigika

3. Home is the place where,Home is the place where,
when you have to go there,when you have to go there,
They have to take you in.They have to take you in.
I should have called itI should have called it
something you somehowsomething you somehow
haven’t to deservehaven’t to deserve
• Robert Frost1955,p.38Robert Frost1955,p.38
• ““The dead of the Hired Man”The dead of the Hired Man”

4. Home is where one isHome is where one is
• A primary condition where ones presence andA primary condition where ones presence and
entitlement are taken for granted.entitlement are taken for granted.
• One does not have to earn the right to be atOne does not have to earn the right to be at
homehome
• Home is where one isHome is where one is

5. Home in literatureHome in literature
• Homer – ‘Odyssey’Homer – ‘Odyssey’
• Odysseus returning home, to Ithaka after theOdysseus returning home, to Ithaka after the
Trojan warTrojan war

6. Home in philosophy and psychologyHome in philosophy and psychology
o M. HeideggerM. Heidegger – the notion of ‘taken-for-granted-at-– the notion of ‘taken-for-granted-at-
homeness’ and ‘dread’ as a condition when we loosehomeness’ and ‘dread’ as a condition when we loose
familiarity of the world. => a serious ontological andfamiliarity of the world. => a serious ontological and
existential disorientation takes placeexistential disorientation takes place
o K. G. JungK. G. Jung – the archetype of home is of ordered– the archetype of home is of ordered
wholeness, includes the archetype of father and motherwholeness, includes the archetype of father and mother
o D. W. WinnicottD. W. Winnicott –– “Home is where we start from”“Home is where we start from”
/physical and psychological dimensions of home//physical and psychological dimensions of home/
o J. BowlbyJ. Bowlby – home is the primary condition which– home is the primary condition which
provides space for early interpersonal relationshipprovides space for early interpersonal relationship

7. HomeHome
 All human beings have a sense of home whichAll human beings have a sense of home which
evokes powerful feelings/positive or negative/evokes powerful feelings/positive or negative/
 Home is a central reality that humans share withHome is a central reality that humans share with
animalsanimals
 Territoriality is connected with the locality andTerritoriality is connected with the locality and
feeling of ‘home’feeling of ‘home’
 ““A place, region or state to which one properlyA place, region or state to which one properly
belongs, in which one’s affection centre, orbelongs, in which one’s affection centre, or
where one finds refuge, rest or satisfaction”where one finds refuge, rest or satisfaction”

8. Meaning of homeMeaning of home
• From physical and geographical community to aFrom physical and geographical community to a
psychological locus of relatedness andpsychological locus of relatedness and
communion, from the origin to the ultimatecommunion, from the origin to the ultimate
place of rest, beyond conflict.place of rest, beyond conflict.
• Polarity of seemingly opposite experiences –Polarity of seemingly opposite experiences –
beginning and end, origin and goal.beginning and end, origin and goal.
• Home is both – the perceived locus of origin asHome is both – the perceived locus of origin as
well as the desired destinationwell as the desired destination (Papadopoulos 1987)(Papadopoulos 1987)

9. Home as multidimensionalHome as multidimensional
experienceexperience
• Totality of all dimensions of home – physical,Totality of all dimensions of home – physical,
geographical, social, cultural etc.geographical, social, cultural etc.
• Cluster of feelings which provide continuity andCluster of feelings which provide continuity and
sense of securitysense of security
• Those feelings form a part of the coreThose feelings form a part of the core
‘substratum of identity’‘substratum of identity’ (R. Papadopoulos, 2002)(R. Papadopoulos, 2002)

10. Metaphorical meanings of homeMetaphorical meanings of home
• A safe placeA safe place
• A place free from attackA place free from attack
• A place that has to be reached as the goal of aA place that has to be reached as the goal of a
gamegame
• Expressions connected with feeling safe “makeExpressions connected with feeling safe “make
yourself at home”yourself at home”

11. Home provides continuity and coexistence betweenHome provides continuity and coexistence between
many opposites, they may be all hold togethermany opposites, they may be all hold together
• LoveLove
• DistanceDistance
• JoysJoys
• HopesHopes
• RivalryRivalry
• LoyaltyLoyalty
• EnmityEnmity
• similaritiessimilarities
• DiscordDiscord
• ProximityProximity
• SorrowsSorrows
• DisappointmentsDisappointments
• CollaborationCollaboration
• BetrayalBetrayal
• FriendshipFriendship
• differencesdifferences

12. • This develops a sense of security, a feeling ofThis develops a sense of security, a feeling of
containment that is not usually consciouslycontainment that is not usually consciously
appreciated.appreciated.
• It forms a basic and primary layer – theIt forms a basic and primary layer – the
substratum of human experiencesubstratum of human experience
• It is usually outside of the reach of awarenessIt is usually outside of the reach of awareness
until it is disturbeduntil it is disturbed

13. Mosaic – substratum of identityMosaic – substratum of identity
• Fundamental sense of home formFundamental sense of home form
the ‘core’ substratum of identitythe ‘core’ substratum of identity
which is structured as a ‘mosaic’.which is structured as a ‘mosaic’.
• It consists of a great number ofIt consists of a great number of
smaller elements which togethersmaller elements which together
form a coherent whole (the factform a coherent whole (the fact
that we belong to a country, thatthat we belong to a country, that
this country exists, that we belongthis country exists, that we belong
to a language group, to ato a language group, to a
geographical landscape, that we aregeographical landscape, that we are
surrounded by particularsurrounded by particular
architectural designs, that we arearchitectural designs, that we are
surrounded by certain smells andsurrounded by certain smells and
tastestastes

14. • The intact substratum provides the essence ofThe intact substratum provides the essence of
being human even if it is mostly unnoticeable.being human even if it is mostly unnoticeable.
• It creates condition to develop, confidence toIt creates condition to develop, confidence to
get on with our lives, gives predictability etc.get on with our lives, gives predictability etc.
• When the mosaic substratum is disturbed – aWhen the mosaic substratum is disturbed – a
sense of unreality and inexplicable gap appears.sense of unreality and inexplicable gap appears.
• Loss of something we were not aware we hadLoss of something we were not aware we had

15. Loss of homeLoss of home
• Internal dislocationInternal dislocation
• ‘‘substratum of identify’ has been moved, maybesubstratum of identify’ has been moved, maybe
rupturedruptured
• Disorientation- unfamiliar, not predictableDisorientation- unfamiliar, not predictable

16. Nostalgic disorientationNostalgic disorientation
• Internal dislocation /not only the actual physicalInternal dislocation /not only the actual physical
movement/, dislodgement from the experiencemovement/, dislodgement from the experience
of being at homeof being at home
• Most of difficulties are related to the attempt toMost of difficulties are related to the attempt to
restore this type of dislocationrestore this type of dislocation
• Multi dimensional and pervasive psychologicalMulti dimensional and pervasive psychological
experience of loss of homeexperience of loss of home (Papadopoulos R. , 2002)(Papadopoulos R. , 2002)

17. Nostalgic disorientationNostalgic disorientation
• Reactions like panic, depression, apathy, splitting,Reactions like panic, depression, apathy, splitting,
suspiciousness may lead t misdiagnosingsuspiciousness may lead t misdiagnosing
• The loss of home is not only about the conscious lossThe loss of home is not only about the conscious loss
of family, belongings, sentimental and material valuesof family, belongings, sentimental and material values
but also it creates a disturbance (nostalgicbut also it creates a disturbance (nostalgic
disorientation) which is close to ‘ontological insecurity’,disorientation) which is close to ‘ontological insecurity’,
‘existential anxiety’, ‘existential angst’, ‘dread’/sense of‘existential anxiety’, ‘existential angst’, ‘dread’/sense of
gap, an absence, lack of confidence in one’s existence, agap, an absence, lack of confidence in one’s existence, a
kind of frozennesskind of frozenness

18. NostalgiaNostalgia
• Nostos – ‘returning home’Nostos – ‘returning home’
• ‘‘Algos’ – pain, acheAlgos’ – pain, ache
• Nostalgia – the hurt, the pain, the sickness, theNostalgia – the hurt, the pain, the sickness, the
suffering that a person experiences in wanting tosuffering that a person experiences in wanting to
go homego home

19. Specific type of lossSpecific type of loss
• All the dimensions of homeAll the dimensions of home
• Opposite directions - origin and goals –Opposite directions - origin and goals –
prospective & retrospective movementprospective & retrospective movement
• Significance of tangible and intangible entitiesSignificance of tangible and intangible entities
/physical and imaginary//physical and imaginary/
• Two successive movements of the homecomingTwo successive movements of the homecoming
process (external and internal, physical andprocess (external and internal, physical and
psychological, return and reintegration)psychological, return and reintegration)

20. • We all share a nostalgic yearning for restoringWe all share a nostalgic yearning for restoring
that very specific type of lossthat very specific type of loss
• Every culture has rituals to mark importantEvery culture has rituals to mark important
transitions: arrivals, departures, joys and grieftransitions: arrivals, departures, joys and grief
• Ritual assist individuals, groups, wholeRitual assist individuals, groups, whole
communitiescommunities
………………

21. exerciseexercise
• What comes to mind when you say “Home”….What comes to mind when you say “Home”….
words, smells, taste, music, games, pictures,words, smells, taste, music, games, pictures,
landscape, language, people…..landscape, language, people…..
5 minutes5 minutes

22. • Collect your experiences in a luggage (bag,Collect your experiences in a luggage (bag,
suitcase, box, rucksack…..)suitcase, box, rucksack…..)
• Might be drawings or words that symbolize itMight be drawings or words that symbolize it
10 minutes10 minutes

23. • Choose one of the experiences/things in theChoose one of the experiences/things in the
luggageluggage
• Share with your partner:Share with your partner:
- what happened to you since you separated- what happened to you since you separated
- what have you kept from your relationship withwhat have you kept from your relationship with
he/she/ithe/she/it
30 minutes30 minutes

24. Process of migration/process ofProcess of migration/process of
therapytherapy
• Connected with loss and adaptationConnected with loss and adaptation
• Connected with mourningConnected with mourning
• Change cannot be accepted without dealing withChange cannot be accepted without dealing with
the lossthe loss
• Dealing with the loss is dealing with the ruptureDealing with the loss is dealing with the rupture
that occurred in separationthat occurred in separation

25. ReferencesReferences
• Apergi A. Working with Liminality: a dramatherapeutic intervention with immigrantsApergi A. Working with Liminality: a dramatherapeutic intervention with immigrants
in a day care centre in Greece, 2015, Dramatherapy www.tandfonline.comin a day care centre in Greece, 2015, Dramatherapy www.tandfonline.com
• Bowlby J. Attachment and Human Development, 2002, 4, 230-242Bowlby J. Attachment and Human Development, 2002, 4, 230-242
• Lijtmaer R. Splitting and Nostalgia, 2001, Journal of the American Academy ofLijtmaer R. Splitting and Nostalgia, 2001, Journal of the American Academy of
Psychoanalysis, 29(3), 428-438Psychoanalysis, 29(3), 428-438
• Papadopoulos R. RKP Athens Babel presentation dec. 2014Papadopoulos R. RKP Athens Babel presentation dec. 2014
• Papadopoulos R. Involuntary Dislocation: Home, Trauma, Resilence and AdversityPapadopoulos R. Involuntary Dislocation: Home, Trauma, Resilence and Adversity
Activated Development, 2013Activated Development, 2013
• Papadopoulos R. Therapeutic Care for Refugees – No Place Like Home, 2002Papadopoulos R. Therapeutic Care for Refugees – No Place Like Home, 2002
• Papadopoulos R. Nostalgic disorientation – presentation EVASP Rome 2010Papadopoulos R. Nostalgic disorientation – presentation EVASP Rome 2010
• Papadopoulou N. The Body as Home unpublished nov. 2014Papadopoulou N. The Body as Home unpublished nov. 2014
• Volkan D. V. Nostalgia as a Linking Phenomenon, Journal of applied PsychoanalyticVolkan D. V. Nostalgia as a Linking Phenomenon, Journal of applied Psychoanalytic
Studies, Vol. 1, No 22, 1999Studies, Vol. 1, No 22, 1999
• Winnicott D. Home is Where we Start From – Essays by a Psychoanalyst, !990,Winnicott D. Home is Where we Start From – Essays by a Psychoanalyst, !990,
Norton PaperbackNorton Paperback