Clinical and Therapeutic Approaches to the Schizoid Dilemma

This chapter explores clinical and therapeutic approaches to the Schizoid Dilemma. For both Guntrip and psychoanalysts like Ralph Klein, the creation of a setting in which the regressed libidinal ego is held in such a way that psychological rebirth or hatching may become possible again is based on a profound understanding of the schizoid’s contact sensitivities. The current chapter provides a brief overview of the central concerns in treating the schizoid disorder of self, synoptically described by Ralph Klein in his split object relations model. Beyond the general goals of therapy with the schizoid, which may include (a) reducing interpersonal (schizoid) anxiety, (b) interrupting withdrawal and retreat, and (c) promoting interpersonal (social) communication or connection, the therapeutic process is also discussed and involves the following steps to achieve these objectives, as basic guidelines, that is, Step 1 Consensus Matching, Step 2 Containment through Holding and Interpretation, and Step 3 A Closer Compromise.