Sexual Abuse Reading - Dec. 2, 2007

Object Relations Therapy of Physical and Sexual Trauma (by Scharff & Scharff)

TML RC569.5 A28 S32 1994


p. 47 - Unresolved Rapprochement Crisis in Incest: Mahler

The developmental stage of separation-individuation

split-off sense of goodness and safety --> carry on being, remains tied to the internal representation of the bad mother; Ambivalence and rage were denied to preserve a semblance of a good internal parent. Fisher (1991) believed that this is the reason for the need for secrecy, lack of recall, memory that is only somatic, and lack of affect of incest victims. (The Trauma of Transgression: Psychotherapy of Incest Victims - Kramer & Akhtar)

Kramer (1985) - "Object-coercive doubting" only in women abused by their mothers.

p. 227 Focusing only on actual events represents the sense of going-on-being that the abused child works so hard to preserve as a defense against trauma and chaos (Siegel 1992). I had to let these psychologically uneventful times simply be and not try to unravel them or find more in them than was there. These times actively maintained me in a neutral attitude and prepared the therapeutic alliance to bear the next exploration of the encapsulated trauma and its impact on the transference.

p. 62 The transitional space for going-on-being: Winnicott

The psychosomatic partnership
Contextual and centered holding
Going-on-being in the potential space
Rebuilding the transitional space
Using countertransference to reach trauma
Providing a generative analytic relationship



Speculations:

1. A CL - cause of incest - incest - cut off of feelings
2. C CL - sexual abuse, stimulated/excited - shame, guilt - defend against enjoy sexual touch and intimacy?