Conceptionalization and Treatment of Personality Disorders

Hello everyone,

As a short introduction, I am an undergraduate student of Psychology and Communication at the University of Utah.

Lately I've been involved in an in-depth study of personality disorders focusing specifically on borderline personalities. I am wondering if there are, in the literature, accounts of Ericksonian techniques being used for the successful treatment of this population. At an intuitive level, I feel that there is definate possibility for this type of approach, or at least for a partial integration of Ericksonian techniques.

Most of the literature that I've found has focused on psychodynamic approaches and recommended psychoanalysis or psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy as the treatment of choice. However, cases that I've read and, in particular, a therapist that I've been studying with have indicated that the real change in these individuals often occurs as a sudden realization, at more of a feeling/intuitive level. That is, as internal objects evolve into more developmentally appropriate ones, the individuals outlook is suddenly altered into a more normative view of things. (i.e. the individual suddenly understands that the therapist exists as a seperate being with his own feelings and thoughts) The nature of the change itself seems to be a rapid one. The understanding/feeling isn't there and then it is. Granted, these moments tend to occur after very long periods of intense psychotherapy, but the change itself is quick, or at least appears to be so. It would make sense that, given the nature of Ericksonian techniques, the application of these methods could bring about these changes sooner perhaps then more traditional methods.

Do any of you have experience in this area? I would love to hear an account or two of applying this type of approach to a population such as borderline which has been traditionally considered very difficult to treat.

Best regards,

Dan

Replies:

Re:Where to hunt, by Steve Lankton, 03/01/01 Re:Conceptionalization and Treatment of Personality Disorders, by , 03/01/01 Please use your name , by Steve Lankton, 03/01/01 Re:Conceptionalization and Treatment of Personality Disorders, by Visitor, 03/17/01

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