DYNAMIC PERSPECTIVES OF PARADOXICAL INTERVENTION

This paper describes the use of paradoxical intervention with a patien t who, despite his persistent appeals for help, remained uncooperative . It endeavors to show an understanding of the patient's destructivene ss as an expression of his neediness and envy, which he expresses via his repeated use of projective identification and suggests this interv ention as a way out. From a dynamic perspective the paradoxical interv ention encompasses two contrasting aspects: On the one hand, it rechan nels the patient's destructiveness and envy in a beneficial direction. In that sense the intervention fulfills the patient's wish for an omn ipotent therapist and for painless therapy, while appearing to prevent personality change. On the other hand, the intervention interferes wi th the continued use of projective identification, it facilitates the expression of non-destructive aggression, creates an ambiguity surroun ding the question of who is in fact in control of the therapy and, fin ally, it possibly facilitates the creation of a potential space. In th at sense the paradoxical intervention assists in achieving both the ex perience of separateness and the ability to use symbolization. Paralle l processes are described in the therapist's countertransference.