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In this paper I will describe thirteen months of work with Peter, a boy who was four and a half years old when we first met. Through his treatment I became especially interested in his use of a blanket which he called “Baa”. It served many functions which I shall consider later. This treatment also raised the technical question about the appropriateness of reconstruction in the treatment of a young child.
Peter's parents, Mr. and Mrs. X, first contacted the psychiatry department on the recommendation of their GP one March. Mrs. X was pregnant and they were worried about Peter's aggressive and disruptive behaviour. The health visitor was concerned that Peter might be hyperactive. However, several months passed before they requested further help. This was after the birth of a third child in the family.
During assessment, in November a year and a half later, Peter's parents described his unpredictable outbursts, where he would suddenly kick or punch his younger sister and his parents. So far he had been protective towards the new baby. At times they could see a conflict building up in him until he became “out of control”. He was generally protective towards his mother but “horrible” when also with other children; she often felt driven to smack him. Peter was more contained if his father was around.
Mrs. X felt Peter was unhappy. He told her that he had feelings and “did not know where they came from”. He was reluctant to go to school or out to play and had no friends. He clung to his mother saying that he wanted to stay with the family for “always”, and said he wanted to get back inside her.
Mrs. X had been concerned for some time but finally sought help when, after Peter had been at school for a term, his teachers confirmed her fears. The teacher described him as anxious and preoccupied with death, unable to sustain play or leaning, at times disruptive and bossy. Mr. X was less worried as he remembered his own difficulties early on at school which