Hidden gifts of love: A clinical application of object relations theory

Using an extended clinical example, the author applies aspects of Kleinian, Fairbairnian, and Bionian theory to demonstrate how individuals may come to hide away feelings of both love and aggression. In the clinical material presented, a version of a schizoid retreat was understood as a pervasive response to trauma. The author attempts to explore more specifically the nature of a ‘traumatizing outer world’ ( Guntrip, 1969 ) and how these experiences cause an individual to retreat and undermine movement toward healthy adult dependency. An understanding of these dynamics helps inform the psychoanalytic treatment process and can serve as a type of roadmap in navigating through challenging transference–countertransference enactments.