Insecurity and Fear of Attachment in a Troubled Adoption A Clinical Example

Abstract

A case is presented of the psychoanalytic treatment of a four-year-old girl who had been adopted in traumatizing circumstances that interfered with the development of secure, healthy bonds of attachment between her and her adoptive parents. This led to severe interpersonal and behavioral problems. The analysis was dramatic and emotionally intense for child and therapist alike. What emerged in the course of the treatment can help illuminate the psychology of adoption as well as that of healthy and pathological attachment between children and their parents. The case also illustrates the way in which intensive (psychoanalytic) treatment of a young child needs to conform to the unique requirements dictated by the child's history, psychological makeup, and family situation. It trenchantly demonstrates the way in which a therapist intensely treating a severely traumatized, distrustful, rage-filled young child, one who is terrified of allowing herself to get close to someone and fall in love with and yearn to be loved by that person, has to be able to withstand the intense emotional storms that can be expected to erupt in the course of treatment. The excellent result obtained from the treatment also demonstrates, however, that the emotional stress is well worth experiencing.