| Abstract: | A Jungian play psychotherapy approach to the treatment of a profoundly sexually abused mother–son incest victim is described. The S started treatment at the age of 4.5 yrs. He and his older brother had been initially raised by their young single mother who supported herself by working as a prostitute. The S's mother had displayed severe parenting deficits including neglect of both children, leaving the children alone for up to 3 days, physical abuse of the S's older brother, and sexual abuse of the S. The S and his brother were taken into temporary care for the 1st time when the S was 4 mo old. The S was formally adopted when he was 37 mo old. Emphasis is placed on (1) the therapeutic alliance; (2) a teleological approach, that is, following the child's play as it unfolds; and(3) the differences between acting-out and acting-in. The play during therapy evolved through several stages: symbolic and verbal disclosure in the 1st session; terror and rage; sexual, urination, cleansing, and nurturant themes; ego and superego development; and latency aged play. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
