Seite - 224 - in Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Puberty and Adolescence - The Inner Worlds of Teenagers and their Parents

224 Lost by the wayside – overstepping limits that their daughter might often feel herself to be a needy three -year -old in the body of a 15 -year -old were not really heard. It was important to clearly negotiate the institutional cooperation between the psychiatric hospital, Dr. E. and the parents (with Chrisse’s participation) – with the proper emphasis on Chrisse’s independence: I asked Chrisse to inform her mother as to our appointments. Dr. E. was responsible for the decisions as to whether and when Chrisse should come to me or could go home, since she was considered to be at strong risk of committing suicide. After our first sessions, I took up contact to Dr. E. in order to discuss what effect the sessions had had on Chrisse (as I also informed Chrisse). Dr. E. confirmed that Chrisse liked the sessions, she felt better after them and thus could spend weekends at home. Regular psychotherapy After a three -week Easter vacation, I saw Chrisse twice a week. She had changed considerably through her stay at the psychiatric hospital and strong medica- tions: she had gained quite a bit of weight, seemed subdued and her words were unclear – something that improved over the course of the session, however. At the beginning she was very nervous and seemed confused. She brought a draw- ing portfolio with her, where she had collected her drawings from the past three weeks. Analyst: A lot has happened since you were last here. You would like me to know what has happened with you without your telling me. Chrisse shows me the Mandalas, very simply drawn as if she were three years old. Then we look together at her drawings; she has drawn beautiful faces. She said that she gained three kilos the first week and two kilos the second week. Now, she has a schedule with her advisor for sports, jogging and gymnastics. Coming to me caused her considerable stress, but it was very important to her because she wishes to become healthy again. In a tight voice, she sings the song texts she has written; their subjects are unhappy love, desperation and the abyss. For Chrisse, therapy had become a space where she felt safe, and she came gladly. Sometimes she managed to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Yet she could not remember figures from her earlier fantasies, such as the snow maiden. Since she reacted well to therapy, Dr. E. had nothing against a two -hour - a -week plan. Through the medication, her daydreams had shed their torturing urgency, and she could once more read and listen to music. She still heard voices, and accordingly received stronger medications. Chrisse participated in activities at the hospital, playing soccer and scoring four goals to bring her team to victory, something she told me proudly. For the next session, Chrisse’s mother brought her a half an hour too early; I let them in only ten minutes before the session was to begin.