A therapeutic intervention based on the integration of psychoanalytic conceptualizations and psychodrama techniques: The case of intrafamilial emotional abuse

Childhood emotional abuse has a decisive impact on child development and can be perpetrated by those closest to them. The current study examined intrafamilial emotional abuse, to probe the clinical question as to why individuals who were maltreated in childhood repeat this behavior in adulthood. A case study of therapy for an emotionally abusive parent is presented to illustrate a psychoanalytic conceptualization, and a psychodrama intervention model. The therapeutic intervention combines psychodrama techniques associated with a psychoanalytic interpretation designed to integrate the split parts reenacted in the abusive behavior.