The Freedom of the Self: The Bio-Existential Treatment of Character Problems

by Eugene M. Abroms

Overview

Building on the work of Janet, Jung, and Fairbairn, the author details a comprehensive theory of pathology and integrates the major schools of treatment into a holistic outpatient milieu therapy. Abroms emphasizes the role of personality dissociation in depressive pathologies, and works toward unifying the self into a more aware, spiritually connected whole. Clinicians working from a variety of viewpoints will find fruit in his work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461362555
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	10/24/2012
Series:	Critical Issues in Psychiatry
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1993
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	0.00(w) x 0.00(h) x 0.02(d)

Table of Contents

1. The Bio-Existential Spirit.- Notes.- 2. The Definition and History of Psychotherapy.- Definition of Psychotherapy.- The Modern History.- Mesmer and the Mesmerists.- The French School.- The Unconscious: High and Low.- Freud’s Theory.- Adler, Jung, and Rank.- The Artist-Therapist.- The Postmaterialist Perspective.- Notes.- 3. The Five Modern Schools of Mental Treatment.- The Psychodynamic School.- The Existential School.- The Biomedical School.- The Learning Theory School.- The Social System School.- Summary.- Integration.- Notes.- 4. The Case of Beth and Howard.- Milieu Therapy.- Beth.- Course in Treatment.- Howard.- Course in Treatment.- Beth and Howard.- Forging the Bond.- Growth.- Notes.- 5. The History and the Hologram.- The Theory of Reenactment.- Holograms and Holography.- The Chief Complaint.- The History of the Present Illness.- The Past History.- Crossing the Line.- Family History.- Summary.- Notes.- 6. Making the Diagnosis and Staging the Treatment.- Staging.- The Case of Henry and Roz.- Depressive Masks.- Somatization.- Projection.- Dissociation.- Other Masks.- Unmasking Depression.- Holographic Interventions.- Summary and Conclusions.- Notes.- 7. A Grief-Based Theory of Disorder.- Implications of Grief Theory.- The Meaning of Grief and Its Pervasiveness.- The Stages of Symptom Formation.- Explanatory Power of the Grief-Substrate Theory.- Notes.- 8. The Dynamics of Drug Therapy.- The Elements of the Medication Response.- Specific Forms of Resistance to Medication.- Medication and Mistrust.- Medication and Autonomy.- Medication and Integrity.- Medication and Forced Maturation.- Principles of Prescribing.- Summary and Conclusions.- Notes.- 9. Changing the Rules.- General Rationale of the Rules.- Rationale for Breaking the Rules.- No Expectations of PositiveChanges.- No First Names.- No Gifts.- No Communications with Family or Friends.- Moral Neutrality.- Anonymity.- Time and Place.- Fee-for-Service Payment.- Concluding Principles.- Summary.- Notes.- 10. Reliving the Past or Creating the Future.- The Nature of the Split-Off Part.- Elements of the Saboteur.- Reintegration.- Carla.- Ben.- Molly.- Inducing the Corrective Split.- The Therapeutic Alliance.- Exposing the Saboteur.- Healing the Split and Taming the Saboteur.- Lucy.- Summary and Conclusions.- Notes.- 11. Guided Intimacy and Milieu Therapy.- The Rules of Guidance.- The Definition of Intimacy.- The Privatization of Marriage.- Social Communion.- Cheryl.- Summary and Conclusions.- Notes.- 12. Freedom.- Creative Acts.- Kohut and the Grandiose Self.- Meditation and the Creative Self.- Inflation and the Creative Self.- Freedom and the Lifework.- Summary and Conclusions.- Notes.

Editorial Reviews

Argues that severe personality disorders result from the shattering of the self and subsequent warfare between subpersonalities. Traces the notion to 19th-century French psychiatry, and shows how it can be modernized by recognizing the connection between such a shattering and unresolved traumatic grief. Basically addressed to therapists, but accessible to lay readers. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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