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The authors describe treatment by one therapist of a small number of patients in individual psychotherapy for about nine months, followed by an analytically oriented group in which the same patients continue treatment with the same therapist for a similar period. Many patients first need a one-to-one relationship with the therapist corresponding to the early infant-mother relationship; subsequently they need the experience of working through conflicts in a setting of multiple and varied relationships corresponding to childhood experiences. Such multiple relationships are available in small therapy groups which mirror the patient's internal object relationships. Some patients whose early relationships were severely disturbed never outgrow a state of schizoid withdrawal. Having failed to work through the schizoid and depressive positions, they are often afraid to join a group and when they do, they tend to drop out. If the patient knows his individual therapy is for nine months only, it gives the therapist and patient the opportunity from the beginning to work on separation. Schizoid personalities never confront this issue because painful losses in early development were so overwhelming that they have avoided close human relationships altogether. In therapy, they are afforded the opportunity of experiencing and working through hostility and persecutory and separation anxiety. After nine months, the patient has to make the choice with regard to further treatment, which highlights the problem of developing autonomy, another vital aspect of growth.