The Paul and Jackie Show: Shattered Expectations—Trampled Cupcakes

Abstract

This discussion of Jackie Gotthold’s paper focuses on the parents of the child, examining their absent/intrusive pattern of relating, and the impact of this pattern on the child, his therapist, and the process of treatment. Questions are posed and answers hypothesized. The child’s pattern of attachment is discussed, and Brandchaft’s Pathological Structures of Accommodation is proposed. The effects on the family of the psychological and developmental changes emanating from lengthy child therapeutic work is discussed. Lachmann’s concept, Violations of Expectations, is introduced as implicitly operative both in the work with the child, as well as his parents.

Keywords:

• attachment
• expectations
• family systems
• organizing principles
• relational style
• selfobject
• self-regulation

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rosalind Chaplin Kindler

Rosalind Chaplin Kindler, MFA, Dipl.TCPP, RDT, RP, is in private practice in Toronto working with children, adolescents, families, and adults. She is the past director, faculty, and supervisor of the Toronto Child Psychoanalytic Program; the past president of the Canadian Association of Psychoanalytic Child Therapists; and a Registered Drama Therapist.