The Birthday Boys: issues of time and timing in the tale of two therapies with two adolescent boys

Abstract

This paper looks at the issues of time and timing in two therapeutic treatments of adolescent boys. One therapy is long-term (six years) and one short-term (six months). Both boys had developmental crises, which coalesced around a significant birthday. The paper addresses the impact of the external world on the work with both boys. In particular, the question of life-story work with looked-after children is examined, and the author proposes a radical development of technique in working with such children.

Keywords:

• ‘Life-story psychotherapy’
• looked-after children
• sexually abusive behaviour
• importance of birthdays
• life-story work
• timing
• sexual abuse

Notes

An earlier version of this paper was given at the ACP Annual Conference in June 2007.