Can You Help Me Be? Commentary on Mr. Mikulka’s Paper “Surviving Destruction and Finding Connection: Play Therapy with an 11 Year Old Boy”

ABSTRACT

In his paper “Surviving Destruction and Finding Connection: Play Therapy with an 11 year Old Boy” Mr. Mikulka describes the treatment of a difficult boy who presented a very contrasting picture – deeply connected to Mr. Mikulka and yet highly provocative and offensive. Mr. Mikulka describes his efforts to make sense of the boy’s acts and to establish limits. In reading his case, one can marvel at his ability to go on despite his provocative statements and sometimes offensive acts to become a steadying presence for the boy, someone who made him feel not just tolerated, but also valued and seen.

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

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Notes on contributors

Ionas Sapountzis

Ionas Sapountzis is an Associate Professor at the Derner School of Psychology of Adelphi University and the director of its School Psychology program.  He is a faculty member and supervisor in the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and in the Child, Adolescent and Family Psychotherapy programs of the Derner School of Psychology.  His articles have been published in the journals of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Psychoanalytic Review and in the Journal of Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy (JICAP).  He has worked with emotionally disabled children and students in the spectrum in school and community settings and maintains a private practice in Garden City, New York.