A Twin in Psychotherapy

(A pseudonym) sought therapy twelve years ago in order to process her experiences of being abandoned as a child by her mother and the subsequent difficulties in relationships. She was very aware that her twinship was the predominant relationship in her life and her attachment to her twin was inhibiting her ability to form other connections. Her twin was also experiencing severe mental health difficulties, and this was extremely stressful and distressing for both. Her mother died unexpectedly during the first year of therapy, which had a huge impact on the work. The eleven-year-long therapy was extremely helpful, but was terminated by the therapist at five months notice due to her relocation. It is only since then that the author has really appreciated how the impact of her twinship was marginalized in therapy to the detriment of her development and understanding. Vivienne Lewin's book, The Twin in the Transference, has been extremely helpful in this realization. It is the author's belief that it is crucial that any therapist who works with a twin needs to understand how twinship has an impact on the therapeutic relationship and is then able to help the client process this unique and complex situation without re-enacting or neglecting it.