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Janice Gitterman's article, “When the Analyst Becomes the Masochist: Finding a Way Out of Enactments with an Attacking Borderline Patient,” is a courageously written account of a courageously conducted case. This case study vividly immerses the reader in the confusing, abrupt, unexpected, and hurtful experiences often present in our work but rarely described as frankly from the therapist's point of view. Too often case presenters give us only the cases that fit their theories the best and present their work as always sure and masterful. These idealized studies do a disservice because they reinforce the magical belief that if one only knew enough theory, had a large enough repetoire of practiced interventions, and was well enough analyzed, one could guide every patient steadily and surely toward a rich and positive resolution. Janice admits that contributing to the scary conflagrations between her and Lynne was her own magical belief that she should and could supply the perfectly apt response to Lynne's demands. Her presentation, which could very profitably be read by therapists in training, gives such magical fantasies a dose of reality.
Even more significant than the powerful account of the therapist's emotional struggles with this difficult case is the presentation of the inevitable conflicts and contradictions of a very familiar form of casual