Animation of a misunderstood life — Autism and psychotherapy

This article aims to describe the essence of autism from a contemporary psychoanalytic viewpoint. Autism is stated to be a congenital impairment, intertwined with a modest yet lasting impact from environment and significant others. It applies theory, based on a clinical vignette, to a highly functioning and well-educated patient. At the same time it is argued that a classical psychoanalytic stance as a therapist can be harmful for the patient, and the value of psychoanalytic therapy is emphasized in which autism is grasped as a two-person psychology and the therapist actively adjust his/her attitude and interpretations. Finally, some techniques are briefly explained.