Becoming a Constant Object in Psychotherapy With the Borderline Patient

by Charles P. Cohen

Charles Cohen and Vance Sherwood focus on the first stage of therapy with borderline patients, the "preconstancy" stage - the time during which a constant attachment must be formed between the patient and therapist. This first phase of treatment is neither quick nor easy to resolve. This book traces the issues facing the therapist during that time, which is usually a very stormy period. The authors propose a treatment approach built around broadening the patient's time sense. The patient's experience of self and other is characterized by urgency and crisis, and affect is experienced with a now-is-forever quality. This book aims to clarify the issues borderline patients face in their daily lives and the attendant treatment dilemmas therapists confront. The authors avoid language and categories that are abstracted form life; hence, the book offers therapists a clear and concise stance for engaging this troubled and troublesome population.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1991

Reviews

[Leabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think there is a lot to be said for this book. The author argues it's best just to be present for a while to denvelop trust. Only once object constancy is present can the work of therapy begin. Being able to hold and hand back the projections of the client in a repackaged form is a skill of good therapy. Needs a very aware, extremely patient and non-egotistical person it would seem. Overall a good read and does not confine itself to strictly to any theoretical approach. The author seems to be sharing insights from hard-won skills.