Using the term “openness” the author will focus his reflection (illustrated by two clinical vignettes) on the conditions that can foster the engagement of older adolescent patients in psychotherapeutic work. To protect against the fear of submission on the one hand, and the fear of loss of identity on the other, the analyst’s overture to a certain measure of flexibility concerning the setting, while maintaining his neutrality, helps establish of useful distance, both for the analyst and the patient.