The ‘internal saboteur’: contributions of W. R. D. Fairbairn in understanding and treating self-harming adolescents

Abstract

Self-harming adolescents pose a great concern to social workers with their frequently dangerous behaviour, and difficulties engaging in treatment. This article attempts to use the contributions of W. R. D. Fairbairn, in particular his concept of the ‘internal saboteur’, to explicate further the conflicts and anxieties underlying the often perplexing behaviour of these young people. Fairbairn's ideas are also used to examine and guide treatment methods with this population. The use of transference and counter-transference to understand better previously disowned aspects of the adolescents is discussed. Despite its clinical usefulness, Fairbairn's ideas have been largely neglected in the social work literature. This is a problematic omission since Fairbairn offers important insights into understanding and treating the self-harming adolescent. This study presents some of Fairbairn's most important concepts and illustrates them through the use of case vignettes from an outpatient practice.

Keywords:

• adolescents
• object relations theory
• self-harm
• W. R. D. Fairbairn
• internal saboteur
• counter-transference

Acknowledgements

I am greatly indebted to Gerald Schamess, MSS, Professor Emeritus, Smith College School for Social Work.