title: Separation-individuation roller coaster in the therapy of a borderline patient.
abstract: Many borderline patients experience gains, not setbacks, as negative and worthy of punishment. Thus, after taking a positive step toward being assertive and self-directing, the patient feels depressed, anxious, bad, and afraid. The progress of therapy experiences many ups and downs, not unlike a roller coaster. This article explains the psychodynamics of this phenomenon in terms of Masterson's theory. A clinical example is used to demonstrate how to identify this process and to help the patient work through it.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: DuBrul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001242:Assertiveness; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012649:Self Concept