Dissociation : Vol. 7, No. 2 (June 1994)

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Dissociation : Vol. 7, No. 2, p. 104-111 : A group for partners and parents of MPD clients part II: themes and responses
(Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1994-06) Benjamin, Lynn R.; Benjamin, Robert
Over more than seven years, common themes have emerged in an adjunctive group for partners and parents of MPD clients. Those themes include: the diagnosis, how the family member "ought " to behave, anger, the sense and fear of loss, self-caring and setting limits, how much to trust the MPD client, the struggle to avoid becoming a "therapist' family member, how to deal with the outside world, marital and sexual issues, how the therapeutic relationship of the MPD client affects the non-MPD group member, family of origin issues, credibility of the MPD client, the non-MPD family member as "monster," existential and spiritual issues, and changes in the relationship upon recovery. This paper examines these themes and therapist responses to the issues of self-care and exploitation, sexual dysfunction, sadistic ritual abuse, the repressed memory controversy, criticism of the MPD client's therapist and parenting.