title: The Masterson Approach with play therapy: a parallel process between mother and child.
abstract: This paper discusses a case in which the Masterson Approach was used with play therapy to treat a child with a developing personality disorder. It describes the parallel progression of the child and mother in adjunct therapy throughout a six-year period. The unique value of the Masterson Approach is that it provides the therapist with a framework and tool to diagnose and treat a child during the dynamic process of play. The case describes the mother-child dyad throughout therapy. It traces their parallel processes that involve separation, individuation, rapprochement, and the recovery of real self-capacities. Each stage of treatment is described, including verbal interventions. The child's internal affective state and intrapsychic structure during the various stages of treatment are illustrated by representative pictures.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mulherin
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007207:Individuation; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D010553:Personality Development; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010989:Play Therapy