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The author of this exceedingly interesting, and the reviewer believes valuable contribution to psychotherapy, describes the method which she pursued in two cases which are given in detail as “relationship therapy.” This term is frankly used to distinguish it from other varieties of psyychotherapy.
Putting it very briefly and very simply, this “relationship therapy,” which was carried out in these two cases, namely a seven year old girl and a seven year old boy, in principle amounts to creating a situation for the patient in which he may express himself emotionally without reserve except for certain natural limitations that necessarily impose themselves upon everyone. The principal one of these limitations is time, and the other most important one is the necessity for the therapist to retain the integrity of his person, to insist upon certain definite standards which the patient must not overstep. Aside from this, it involved on the part of the therapist a keen, intuitive appreciation of the significance of what is happening during the psychoanalytic hour based upon large experience, a singleness of purpose in the desire to be of assistance to the patient, and a deep appreciation of the great value to the patient of the multitudinous experiences of the psychotherapeutic hour.
The author, after detailing her two cases, enters into a theoretical discussion of their significance and an explanation of the results obtained, which were favorable in both instances. These results come about because the patient, for the first time perhaps in his life, has had an opportunity to form a relationship with another individual which brings about the existence of a situation in which he feels safe and in which, therefore, he can expand and develop in compliance with the original pattern of his make-up and with his possibilities.
It is necessary to assume that human beings come into the world with certain potentialities for development, which potentialities are capable of being realiz