The Couple's Hypnotic Dance: Creating Ericksonian Strategies in Marital Therapy by Kershaw Dr. Carol

Author:Kershaw, Dr. Carol [Kershaw, Dr. Carol]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Awake Press
Published: 2014-08-13T16:00:00+00:00

Figure 6.1 Problem Complex (back )

Developmental Stages

Lifestyle impacts developmental stages. Those who lead healthy and balanced lives are likely to move through transitional phases easier to experience different stages of development. The methods people use to attain satisfaction may either lengthen or shorten the life span.

Women experience developmental stages somewhat differently than do men. The therapist should take these differences into account.

The following is a brief developmental schema to assist the therapist in making an assessment of deficits and strengths.

0 to 6 months : The child should have developed an attachment to the mother or caretaker and can form a mental image of this individual. Early notions of splitting between the “good and bad parent” occur depending on the availability of the mother to meet the immediate demands of the infant. The mother or caretaker needs to feel warmth and caring toward the infant. The interactions between mother or caretaker and infant will have an impact on the individual as an adult.

The marital therapist may want to determine the quality of attachment each marital partner as made with the other. The quality of contact each person makes may reflect a disruption in development from this time period. The hypnotic work will then involve addressing the recreation of attachment experiences in symbolic or metaphoric work.

5 months to 9 months : A sense of separateness from the caretaker occurs during this time. There is a “psychological birth” as differentiation from the parent begins. The definition of “me” begins during this stage. The child begins to physically move away from the caretaker, although it continues to use her or him as a home base and moves back when needed. Crawling and walking begin at this time as the baby begins to experience the need to explore the environment. The caretaker needs to support this beginning separation and yet be available to the child who comes back to make certain he or she is still there.

1.5 years : This period is termed by some object relationists as the period of rapprochement. Here there is anxiety over separation from the mother or caretaker. The child must learn how to be separate and maintain a sense of safety. During this time, the child begins to name himself or herself and identifies with the mother or caretaker. Object permanence is established. If the child’s caretaker leaves the room, the child can carry an inner image to provide a sense of security until the caretaker returns. A failure to achieve object constancy and permanence can create a defective capacity for evocative memory, and stifle the ability to mourn (Masterson & Rinsley, I 975). Masterson (1981) suggests that the child who is reared by a borderline caretaker will have dependent and regressive behavior reinforced and separating-individuating behavior punished. The internalized image of self and caretaker will take on polar dimensions. Part of the inner caretaker image will be tinged with criticism, hostility, anger, and attack; part of the image will seem loving, supportive, and approving. On the one hand,

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