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Will's Case
Psychoanalysis
Treatment
Other
Object Relations Theory
100
Upon the first meeting, the case manager who referred Will gave the therapist a preconceived judgment on Will. The therapist thought that Will would come in looking like Tarzan's evil twin, yet Will was flat, powerfully silent, polite, well-mannered, and serious-solemn yet not threatening. The therapist felt assaulted by Will's initial demeanor, what will this cause in the therapist?  
WHAT IS... 

Countertransference, as it is very common to a client with a Schizoid condition

"Others share similar feelings towards Will" 
100

Did you know? 


Narcissism & Schizoid may be seen very similar. Contemporary object relations theories of the schizoid condition derive from early psychoanalytic theories about narcissism. 



WHAT IS.. 

TRUE. 


The Greek myth of Narcissus, a self-lover with grandiose feelings of uniqueness, doomed a life of loneliness because of their own mind, and he is an ideal relationship partner that no one in the real world can measure up to. 


Freud's early identification of narcissistic traits: preoccupation of self, lack of moral restraint, low frustration tolerance, vulnerable to psychosis, defensive patterns (splitting, projection ego functioning) are very similar to Schizoid personality. 

100
SZPD individuals seek professional help, it is usually because of the consequences of their isolation (drug abuse, depression, SI) rather than seeking treatment for the isolative predisposition or causes of the isolation. 
WHAT IS... 


True, similarly to the family, friends, and romantic partners that seek treatment when dealing with an individual who suffers from a diagnosis.

100
True or False: 

Schizoid Personality Disorder (SZPD) is one of the least researched and most difficult to treat the personality disorders? 
WHAT IS... 

TRUE 

SZPD is under-researched because is near-autistic introversion. 
100
In regards to Will's case, he mentions that his parents were divorced as a child. His father had untreated auditory hallucinations, magical/mystical thinking, and rageful behaviors. His mother was smothering and overprotective. Are these considered precipitating factors in accordance to object relations? 
WHAT IS... 

YES, from an early age he did not have a secure attachment to his father and had helicopter parenting with his mother. He has a detachment from social relationships. 
200
Client's like Will are a perfect example to practice "silence" during the therapy session? 
WHAT IS... 

NO. Client's with SZPD want the closeness of relationships & communication, if a therapist were to use continuous periods of "silence" in their session, it would be counter-productive, as the client will only withdraw further away from therapy. 
200
In conjunction with Object Relations, Psychoanalysts believe that individuals who are severely socially impaired to an extent that creates a risk of harm to self or others make it exceedingly difficult to be in relationships that are essential to their survival of human beings? 
WHAT IS... 


Yes, because the risk of harm to self or harm to others evidently causes a barrier to form intimate relationships with romantic partners, family, and friends.  

200

True or False? 

Alcoholics Anonymous help increase to increase social interactions: i.e: more intimate, increased peer-social contact, and improved sociability? 

WHAT IS... 


Yes, peer-peer helping behavior is good for individuals who lack socialization.

200
True or False? 

Object Relations theory operates from the premise that all human beings are inherently relational? Are we all born with an intrinsic desire for connection with others? 
WHAT IS... 

YES. 

What could be some examples that humans have an intrinsic desire for connections with others? 
300
Will's therapist self-discloses in multiple instances. Is this an appropriate approach from the therapist? 
WHAT IS... 

Yes, it was effective in helping Will engage in a reciprocal and connected way, which can be said to be the ultimate goal in doing therapy with an individual with SZPD. The therapist should model a positive relationship, "The schizoid learns to tolerate a degree of emotional connection with the therapist, which then becomes a working model for other relationships" 
300
Name interventions that could be good to increase social interdependency development?  
WHAT IS... 


Group work (A.A meetings), family dynamics, closer relationships to others, social skills, gently challenging them to participate more in life, and asking if you can intervene more directly

300
True or False? 

Unhealthy dependency in early life leads to healthy interdependency throughout the life cycle? 
WHAT IS... 

FALSE. 

A healthy sense of dependency that is synonymous with healthy child development. Thus, healthy dependency in early life leads to healthy interdependency throughout the life cycle. 

400
Good or bad? 

Will's therapist suggests that will use the Alcoholics Anonymous principles (mainly honesty and courage) with his family members. Is this good or bad?
WHAT IS... 

GOOD, because Will then responds by saying that he would, in fact, appreciate healthier relationships with his parents. 

-Object Relations therapy in SZPD will help them explore their fears and related to patterns in intimacy-avoidance. 
400
Can you see a similarity in Narcissism, Autism, and SZPD? 
WHAT IS... 


social isolation, difficulty to maintain relationships, risks for health problems, difficulty with involvement in educational and vocational pursuits. 

400
Clients, who are emotionally pulled away disengage midway through therapy? 
WHAT IS... 


Yes, because some clients, like Will, would have preferred a more directive approach to therapy. 

500
The therapist calls Will to come back to therapy after not being present for 3-4 months, the therapist, "empathized with the emotional pain of this topic (making friends), normalized it as a struggle that is common among young men in early recovery and inquired about whether social anxiety was something the might want to work in therapy." What was the outcome? 
WHAT IS... 


Will agreed over the phone and never again returned to therapy- an expression of the core ambivalence of intimacy.

500
When is Cinco de Mayo? 
WHAT IS.... 


May 5th. 

500

True or false? 

Treatment does not attempt to wholly alter the personality type (SZPD), as it does attempt to decrease personality severity towards a healthier introversion?

WHAT IS... 


Yes, i.e: Leaning to tolerate a degree of emotional connection with the therapist as a model relationship