Treating Attachment Pathology

by Jon Mills

Overview

Offering the first comprehensive paradigm on the psychoanalytic treatment of adult and adolescent attachment disorders, Jon Mills argues that attachment pathology is a disorder of the self based on developmental trauma that predisposes patients toward a future trajectory marked by structural deficits, character pathology, and interpersonal discord that fuel and sustain myriad forms of clinical symptomatology. This pivotal work constitutes a treatise on the governing psychic processes of attachment on self-organization, adaptation, and conflicted intersubjective dynamics in non-childhood populations. Through conceptually astute technical strategies grounded in sold clinical practice, the author offers one of the most extensive and original frameworks in the psychoanalytic treatment of attachment disorders.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780765701329
Publisher:	Aronson, Jason Inc.
Publication date:	03/25/2005
Pages:	388
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 8.94(h) x 0.83(d)

About the Author

Jon Mills, Psy.D., Ph.D., ABPP, is a psychologist, philosopher, and psychoanalyst in private practice in Ajax, Ontario, Canada. He is a diplomate in psychoanalysis and clinical psychology with the American Board of Professional Psychology and is currently president of the Section on Psychoanalysis of the Canadian Psychological Association.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Part I: Theoretical and Diagnostic Considerations Chapter 2 1 Conceptualizing Attachment Pathology Chapter 3 2 The Attachment Disordered Self Chapter 4 3 Borderline Organization, Trauma, and Attachment Part 5 Part II: Treatment Perspectives Chapter 6 4 Beginning the Treatment Chapter 7 5 The Fragile Nature of Therapeutic Alliance Chapter 8 6 Managing Primitive Defenses Chapter 9 7 Embracing Countertransference Chapter 10 8 Reaching the Affect Part 11 Part III: Extended Case Studies Chapter 12 Engaging Alexithymia in a Depressed, Eating Disordered, Body Dysmorphic Adolescent Female Chapter 13 Feeling Closeted: Der Todestrieb, Guilt, and Self-Punishment in a Bipolar Gay Man Chapter 14 Homo Homini Lupus: Treating a Case of Systemic Ritualistic Abuse Chapter 15 Postscript from the Unconscious

Editorial Reviews

It is a rare treat indeed and one that is increasingly uncommon to have the richest, most detailed clinical material presented alongside tightly organized and coherent clinical theory. This book is of immense practical value. In teaching simple but effective therapeutic techniques, the book succeeds in identifying a previously frequently overlooked set of clinical problems and in meeting these in the most powerful way that modern analytic technique is able to muster. This book is an absolute gem!--Peter Fonagy, Ph.D., University College of London, Director of the Sub-Department of Clinical Health Psychology

Under the author's highly knowledgeable and skillful guidance, attachment theory once the pariah of psychoanalysis, is demonstrated by him to be central to understanding human development, and errors in attachment to be central to the development of psychopathology. Thus, attachment has now become a major player in psychoanalytic theory and clinical application. Dr. Mills ably demonstrates the role of attachment disorder in adult dysfunctional ways of being. It is the immediacy of the importance of attachment in the clinical situation which clearly distinguishes this worthy book. Attachment is no longer simply a feature of infancy in childhood. It is a matter for a lifetime and is a major player in adult psychopathology. I urge all mental health workers to read it.--James S. Grotstein, M.D., David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA; Training and Supervising analyst at the Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Society/Institute and

The theoretical discussions and treatment considerations are rich, nuanced, and informative.--Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic: A Journal for the Mental Health Professions

From the Publisher

The theoretical discussions and treatment considerations are rich, nuanced, and informative.

Bulletin Of The Menninger Clinic

The theoretical discussions and treatment considerations are rich, nuanced, and informative.

Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic: A Journal for the Mental Health Professions

It is a rare treat indeed and one that is increasingly uncommon to have the richest, most detailed clinical material presented alongside tightly organized and coherent clinical theory. This book is of immense practical value. In teaching simple but effective therapeutic techniques, the book succeeds in identifying a previously frequently overlooked set of clinical problems and in meeting these in the most powerful way that modern analytic technique is able to muster. This book is an absolute gem!

Peter Fonagy

Mills' work is a welcome addition to the literature. It goes beyond simply linking adult psychopathology to early attachment difficulties. Mills' work provides a theoretical framework for understanding attachment from a psychodynamic/psychoanalytic perspective and then uses this theoretical framework to discuss the aetiology and treatment of adult disorders. Although Mills is working from a psychoanalytic/psychodynamic perspective, this book offers much to clinicians from all perspectives. Mills is clearly passionate about his work, and it is hard not to feel the same excitement when reading his work...

Canadian Psychology

Under the author's highly knowledgeable and skillful guidance, attachment theory once the pariah of psychoanalysis, is demonstrated by him to be central to understanding human development, and errors in attachment to be central to the development of psychopathology. Thus, attachment has now become a major player in psychoanalytic theory and clinical application. Dr. Mills ably demonstrates the role of attachment disorder in adult dysfunctional ways of being. It is the immediacy of the importance of attachment in the clinical situation which clearly distinguishes this worthy book. Attachment is no longer simply a feature of infancy in childhood. It is a matter for a lifetime and is a major player in adult psychopathology. I urge all mental health workers to read it.

James S. Grotstein