Santa's grotto an exploration of the christmas break in therapy

Abstract

This article explores the nature of breaks in therapy, looking at the particular crisis that Christmas can evoke. A Kleinian perspective is used to explore an analytical approach to separation, absence and the development of thinking. The winter break at Christmas is then considered, which has both cultural and individual meaning. It may resonate in the inner world of the client as well as having outer world realities that are hard to bear. The article then moves on to address some adolescent reactions to breaks, both destructive acting out and not returning after a break. Finally, the image-making of the latency child is discussed in an extended example. This considers both images made before a break and images made after a break that is, the necessity to find a way back into therapy.