It feels like Armageddon: identification with a female personality-disordered offender at a time of cultural, political and personal attack

ABSTRACT

This paper describes work undertaken at a secure unit for female mentally-disordered offenders in the United Kingdom. It addresses the use of psychoanalytic music therapy within the institution, in particular using material pertaining to an individual diagnosed with a psychotic illness and personality disorder, detained long term in an acute ward of the hospital. The work took place at a time when huge cuts to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) were being implemented, and arts therapies were one of the resources that had been downscaled. A theme running throughout the paper examines the author’s personal challenges as a newly qualified therapist and the way in which the institutional dynamics impacted upon the work. Also explored are some of the challenges the therapist faced that arose as a result of shared experiences that resonated strongly between client and therapist. The main body of the paper addresses key psychoanalytic concepts that underpinned the work. In music therapy, a growing body of clinical work focusing upon attachment and mentalisation is emerging, and in also considering the complex needs and ways of relating of the client from these perspectives, the author hopes to contribute towards this.

KEYWORDS:

• Attachment theory
• forensic
• personality disorder
• psychodynamic music therapy
• mentalisation

Notes

¹ Please note personal details have been kept to a minimum to protect anonymity.

² “Armageddon” can be defined as ‘a dramatic and catastrophic conflict, especially one seen as likely to destroy the world or the human race. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Armegeddon.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Helen Short

Helen Short is a guest lecturer and clinical supervisor at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, UK. She has a broad experience of working with children and adults diagnosed with mental health and behavioural difficulties in inpatient and community settings. She practices with West London Mental Health NHS Trust and Chroma Therapies. She presented her clinical work at the European music therapy congress in 2013 and the World Music Therapy Congress (2014), and her work has been published in several music therapy journals.