The battle within the self,II: An existential approach to psychotherapy with personality disorders

Individuals who suffer from personality disorders are dominated by an internalized self-attacking mechanism which is labeled here as the enemy. This force is the incorporated voice of the parent incessantly operating and producing the psychological pain which very much characterizes the patient's existence. By anthropomorphizing this destructive aspect of the personality structure, the therapist is better able to become an ally with the healthy parts of the patient against this critical internal enemy. As patients more fully comprehend the wide extent of the ongoing battle within the self, they begin to develop the necessary resources to effect significant behavioral changes.