Dr. Strangeclass or: How I stopped worrying about the theory and began treating the blue collar worker

Abstract

1. A Psychoanalytic Institute and Auto Workers' Union signed a two year contract providing treatment by graduate psychoanalysts for any union member in need of psychotherapy. 2. A campaign was instituted to inform and educate the union members about mental health and how their problems may lie in this area. 3. There has been general acceptance and full utilization of the program by the union. 4. Differences between analyst (middle class) and union member (lower class) reflected in attitudes, values, goals and life styles must be understood to make adaptations that will be effective in the psychotherapeutic approach. 5. Modified and different psychotherapeutic approaches are discussed and some illustrative examples are offered from work with my blue collar patient. 6. Goals of psychotherapy with the blue collar patient are discussed and implications for a more broadly based psychiatry are offered. 7. The results of one year's work, in which two-thirds of the patients terminating showed clear improvement, are encouraging. 8. There appears to be much room for further improvement and changes in adapting psychotherapeutic techniques and in working with members of the lower socio-economic group. 9. The suggestion is clear that widening the scope of the therapist's modalities of treatment not only allows him to help a large, hitherto untapped, portion of the population, but will improve his skill and efficiency in working with all of his patients.