When a German sentence starts with a word other than the subject, the subject moves after the verb into the Mittelfeld (middle field). Here, the order of subjects and pronouns depends on "weight": pronouns are lighter than nouns.
When the Subject is a Noun
Because nouns are "heavy," an object or reflexive pronoun jumps in front of a noun subject. Notice how the reflexive pronoun (sich) steps ahead of the noun subject (der Psychologe):
| Today, the psychologist is taking a look at the trauma. | Heute sieht sich der Psychologe das Trauma an. |
The same rule applies to direct and indirect object pronouns:
| Often, the subconscious represses it. | Oft verdrängt es das Unterbewusstsein. |
| Then, the psyche processes it. | Dann verarbeitet ihn die Psyche. |
When the Subject is a Pronoun
If the subject is also a pronoun (like er or sie), both words are light. The subject pronoun wins and stays closest to the verb.
Since the subject is now er instead of der Psychologe, it comes before the reflexive pronoun sich:
| Therefore, he is taking a look at the trauma. | Deshalb sieht er sich das Trauma an. |
Subject pronouns also precede object pronouns:
| Normally, she represses it. | Normalerweise verdrängt sie es. |
| Fortunately, we process it with each other. | Zum Glück verarbeiten wir ihn miteinander. |
More Practice with Noun Subjects
Here are a few more examples of pronouns (uns, ihm, and sich) stepping ahead of noun subjects:
| Mostly, the psyche protects us. | Meistens schützt uns die Psyche. |
| Sometimes, his soul hurts. | Manchmal tut ihm die Seele weh. |
| Immediately, the perception changes. | Sofort ändert sich die Wahrnehmung. |