The holding environment : challenges in the containment of a patient with borderline personality disorder

Vollenhoven-Brown, Tanya

The holding environment : challenges in the containment of a patient with borderline personality disorder

Master Thesis

2008

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Psychology

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

This qualitative study used a single case study method to explore the therapeutic relationship between the researcher and a client diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder. The aim of this study was to examine what it entailed to establish a foundation stable enough to support the client as she challenged the rules set up to protect the therapeutic space. A hermeneutic - psychoanalytic analysis of session notes taken over the course of the one year treatment was used to make sense of the symbolic enactments occurring between the researcher and her client. This contributed to a deeper understanding of what it meant to provide a therapeutic holding environment for someone with a pattern of instability of relating to others and viewing herself.

Description

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-74).

Keywords

Clinical Psychology

Reference:

Collections

Masters

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