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I wish to follow on with another case1 in which a child of about the same age revealed in an entirely unexpected way the block that he found to his freedom to use the regressive aspect of the two-way tendency, one way which would lead him to the world and the other way which would lead him back to dependence. In this case the block was something that was in the mother, as the details of the case will show. Here again there was a favourable outcome.
The mother had been for some years in the care of a psychiatric colleague who is also an analyst, on account of panics and depression. She had obviously been a very ill patient and had been treated by psychotherapy. The father had also had depressive phases and both parents had attended for group therapy. They said they felt that the very existence of the family depended on the help given over the years by my colleague.
First I saw Bob with his father and mother. I learned that in the household there was Bob aged 6 years, a brother aged 5 years, and another brother aged 1 year. There was also a girl of 15, the adopted daughter of the mother's parents. Bob's father worked in a factory. In the house there were three bedrooms, which were not enough. Bob and the next boy slept together, often in the same bed.
Already I was finding out what Bob was like. His words were shortened and many of them were difficult to understand. Nevertheless he communicated freely. He had come in an excited state and he took up his position in one of the little chairs, eager for whatever should happen. It could really be said that he was full of some vague kind of hope.
At this point the parents went to the waiting-room and I had Bob alone with me in my room for forty-five minutes.
Bob was easy to meet. He expected friendliness and helpfulness.