Transference--counter-transference constellations and enactments in the psychotherapy of destructive narcissism.
Destructive narcissism, characterized by a perverse alliance between the self and an omnipotent bad internal object, constitutes a serious obstacle to psychoanalytic psychotherapy. This paper draws together various object relations theories of destructive narcissism, and presents a case study of a failed psychotherapy to illustrate the transference--counter-transference constellations and their associated enactments in treatment of this disturbance.
Ivey
G
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Department of Psychology, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa.
D003379:Countertransference; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009289:Narcissism; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology