Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Making the most of your time: Clinical social work with a borderline patient

  • Articles
  • Published:
Clinical Social Work Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

If the therapist is to avoid feeling helpless bewildered, and disorganized in response to patients with Borderline Personality Disorder, it is essential that he or she understand as fully as possible the behavior, defenses, and developmental history commonly associated with this syndrome. This paper examines both the diagnostic and the treatment issues from an object relations perspective, including the contributions of social work concepts. A case example is offered.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler, G. & Buie, D. (1979): Aloneness and borderline psychopathology: The possible relevance of child development issues.International Journal of Psychoanalysis, Vol. 60, pp. 83–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanck, R. (1977): Practice theory then and now.Smith College Studies in Social Work, March, 1977.

  • Fraiberg, S. (1969): Libidinal object constancy and mental representation.Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, Vol. 24, pp. 9–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freed, A. (1980): The borderline personality.Social Casework, November, 1980.

  • Giovacchini, P. (1979):Treatment of primitive mental states. New York: Jason Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kernberg, O. (1976):Object-relations theory and clinical psychoanalysis. New York: Jason Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahler, M., Pine, F., & Bergman, A. (1975):The psychological birth of the human infant. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masterson, J. (Ed.) (1978):New perspectives on psychotherapy of borderline adults. New York: Brunner and Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogden, T. (1982):Projective identification and psychotherapeutic technique. New York: Jason Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winnicott, D. W. (1960a): The theory of the parent-infant relationship. InThe maturational process and the facilitating environment. New York: International Universities Press, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods, M. (1983): The importance of psychosocial practice for clinical social work education.Proceedings, Second International Conference on Psychodynamic Social Work. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 146-18 32 Avenue, 11354, Flushing, NY

    Roberta Graziano

Authors
  1. Roberta Graziano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This paper was delivered at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the International Conference for the Advancement of Private Practice, August 1984, in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Graziano, R. Making the most of your time: Clinical social work with a borderline patient. Clin Soc Work J 14, 262–275 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00755858

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00755858

Keywords

Search

Navigation