Dissociation : Vol. 7, No. 4 (Dec. 1994)

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Browsing Dissociation : Vol. 7, No. 4 (Dec. 1994) by Author "Benjamin, Robert"

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    Dissociation : Vol. 7, No. 4, p. 229-238 : Issues in the treatment of dissociative couples
    (Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1994-12) Benjamin, Lynn R.; Benjamin, Robert
    Marital work is an important adjunct to the individual treatment of the dissociative client. In this paper, we examine Kaslow's (1982) standard of the "healthy" couple and the specific problems inherent in marital work with dissociative clients and their partners. We believe that the course of marital treatment needs to be keyed to the stages of the individual treatment, although marital treatment can facilitate the progress of individual treatment as well. We describe our approach including contextual principles, marital dynamics, contributions from affect theory, and utilization of hidden resources. Finally, we review some controversies in the field and express our opinions based on our experiences. Marital work with dissociative clients is still developing as an approach, and there is much yet to be learned.
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    Dissociation : Vol. 7, No. 4, p. 239-245 : Utilizing parenting as a clinical focus in the treatment of dissociative disorders
    (Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1994-12) Benjamin, Lynn R.; Benjamin, Robert
    Parenting is a potent resource in both the individual and family treatment of Dissociative Disorders. A focus on parenting helps to build the therapeutic alliance and establish a safe base. It subtly shifts the client's attention to childhood experiences and the parenting that he or she experienced. The therapist's empathy and crediting of the client is echoed in the relationship between the dissociative parent and his or her child. The therapist promotes bonding and attachment, sensitizes the parent to the child's needs, and increases the parent's sense of self-efficacy. Through involving the parenting partner, the therapist promotes cooperation and reduces conflict. Therapy is aimed toward teaching affect regulation, decreasing negative affect, and increasing positive affect among family members. Utilization of extrafamilial support is also encouraged. Attention to parenting serves both to stimulate progress in individual therapy and to interrupt and correct dysfunctional transgenerational patterns.
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    Dissociation : Vol. 7, No. 4, p. 246-260 : Various perspectives on parenting and their implications for the treatment of dissociative disorders
    (Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1994-12) Benjamin, Lynn R.; Benjamin, Robert
    The parent-child dyad has been an underutilized resource for clinicians who treat individuals with dissociative disorders. This article examines the functions of the parent from the perspectives of various fields of knowledge: psychodynamic psychotherapy, attachment theory, infant development, affect theory, and family systems. It then elaborates on how dissociative symptoms may interfere with the normal processes of parenting and child development. Finally, it points out that there are a number of advantages to dealing with the parenting subsystem of the family of dissociative disorder individuals. Sensitizing clients to their own parenting can serve to benefit the therapeutic alliance as well as help the client/parent improve the parent-child relationship. This work has the potential both to aid in the recovery of the individual dissociative client and to begin to correct the transgenerational exploitation and mistrust which cause and perpetuate dissociative pathology.