The Development of a Cohesive Enough Self: A Case Study of a Traumatized Youth

This paper explores self psychology in the treatment of a latency-age girl with severe developmental trauma. Kohutian self psychological principles and psychoanalytically informed play therapy concepts are reviewed and examined in relation to one another. Through a case study, this paper assesses how selfobject needs emerged in the transference and how engaging with selfobject transferences ultimately led to the increasing stability of a cohesive self. The conclusion suggests that understanding and responding to such transferences was critical to the development of a cohesive enough self, one that was able to manage the demands of self-other differentiation. Intersubjective theory is considered through examining a moment of mutual recognition that was achieved, illustrating the treatment gains that a self psychological approach to play therapy afforded. Three vignettes and additional clinical material illustrate this process in practice.