Abstract This paper will contain an exploration of clinical process of Amy's emerging understanding of her own multiple selves and her growing awareness of her Self (the center and totality of her own psychic structure) as located in the spaces in between her shifting self states. This insight provided her with the empowerment to self regulate and use impulse control as she started to dissolve the bonds of sadomasochistic compulsion and addiction to marijuana. Amy, a cis, queer identified, white woman, began to see herself as the owner of her own capacity for change through identification with the spaces between. Thereafter, agency and self possession, once invisible, became visible. I will describe narratives, dialogue, dreams, and technique in working to provide a safe enough therapeutic environment for Amy to reveal herself to herself and to myself. Amy presents with C-PTSD with multiple self states engaged in the treatment, more parts might engage as relationship to Self strengthens. This work spans six years of regular sessions mostly three times a week during ages 22-28 for Amy.
This paper will uniquely describe a processing of differentiating Self from internalized introjects for the purpose of meaning making. Then will describe the re-integration of those introjects into the understanding of her own psychic functioning. In outlining this example of trauma-informed clinical care within the frameworks of Jungian and Relational analysis I hope to provide contemporary views on parts work and integration. Additionally, this is an account of the coalescing of trauma knowledge, Jungian, and psychoanalytic technique.
My hope is that readers may develop a greater understanding of how the dissociative model of the mind, with its ability to create multiple self states, can be understood along side the Jungian model of complexes and archetypes. I believe approaching the clinical situation with multiple frameworks in mind can provide a richness of recognition for the folks we work with, so that we can more intimately conceive of what it means to be multiple.
I hope that readers may also take away a sense of what it means to work within both psychoanalytic and trauma informed models. As an instructor in a psychoanalytic training program, I've noticed the need for clarity in connection between trauma therapy and psychoanalytic informed therapy; as these two frameworks often overlap yet provide unique insight in their own way. In conclusion, I believe the use of multiple frameworks in illuminating multiplicity of self provided vitality for Amy and for the therapeutic relationship. As clinicians we have options even if we might feel those options are invisible, one way of sourcing visibility is in the exchange of experiential accounts, therefore my desire in sharing this paper is that it may add to the wealth of shared clinical experiences and light source.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to:
Use this account of therapeutic work with someone presenting with C-PTSD and multiple self states presenting in treatment to enrich their knowledge base of C-PTSD
Identify similarities and unique contributions of trauma theory, psychoanalytic theory, and Jungian theory
Utilize a depth oriented, contemporary clinical example of Bromberg's concept of "the space in between" multiple self states
Explain the process of identifying multiple self states and how to integrate trauma informed parts work for an individual's meaning making
Discuss a process of self empowerment and self locating through the growing visibility to one's own multiplicity of self which was formerly invisible
