Therapy: Marriage and Family In a time of global recession and in the aftermath of “9/11” there is an increasing interest in affective and communal healing in the face of terror campaigns (Dwyer & Santikarma, 2007, p. 404). Marriages and families may require assistance from informed and professional counsellors before disagreements reach damaging proportions including emotional problems such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD has been depicted in a recent film that is entitled Reign Over Me (Sony Pictures, 2007, p. 1). The main character Charlie was a professional dentist whose wife, three children and family dog were killed when one of the planes that was linked to the “9/11” incident crashed. Charlie was portrayed as suffering from PTSD and associated illusions. Charlie’s friend felt that Charlie should be given support and opportunities to be autonomous. At the beginning of the helping process facilitated by his friend, there was a disparity between a community psychiatrist and Charlie. Later, Charlie worked with a female psychiatrist, although he felt that there was a disparity between them as she was younger. The woman psychiatrist seemed to experience a kind of therapeutic impasse with Charlie and this contributed to his being detected and treated by professionals in institutional care. The commentary on an institutionalised biomedical care facility that seemed focused on Charlie’s symptoms was quite negative. Pearlman and Saakvitne (1995, p. 56) state, “…approaches that emphasize symptoms, and pathology convey little awareness of a whole person.” Charlie’s remaining family members were his late wife’s parents and they became angry with him because he did not seem to grieve in the way that they did and also because he did not want to retain a connection with them. A main limitation of Reign Over Me was portraying the main character as being a risk to others because he carried and pointed a loaded gun. Moreover, the overall symptoms that are interrelated with PTSD were taken to an extreme level; these symptoms included social and work-related isolation, challenges with intimacy and distress in relationships (Goff et al, 2006, p. 457). Added to this, Charlie avoided remembering and facing traumatic materials such as photographs of his deceased family members. Pearlman and Saakvitne (1995, p. 133) mention, “When not knowing, and not remembering are required for psychological, and physical survival, the threat of memory or knowledge is intolerable.” Rothschild (2000, p. 35, as cited in Williams & Poijula, 2002, p. 13) refers to PTSD and describes it thus, “…a disorder of memory gone awry”. Neumann and Gamble (1995, p. 343) and Williams and Poijula (2002, p. 14) suggest that stress on professionals can be understandable when they are exposed to traumatic materials.
Charlie seemed to feel survivor guilt about what his last words were to his wife before she died. BenEzer (2007, p. 386) mentions that survivor guilt could happen when those who remain alive grieve for the deceased. Charlie’s freedom to live in the community and to be autonomous was eventually respected by his friends. Anxieties for professionals about being sued by patients, for example due to sexual misconduct, were mentioned and the checks and balances of a legal system against the institutionalised mental health system was a theme in this film. Herman (1997, p. 140) writes, “Patients may be quite direct about their desire for a sexual relationship.” Professionals need to withstand attempts on the part of clients to seduce them. In addition, practitioners will need to work with clients to address rage and hostility that is directed to them (Herman, 1997, p. 140). According to Williams and Poijula (2002, p. 88) “Anger and rage are often by-products of trauma; in other words, persons who have experienced traumatic events often focus their emotions onto other people, events, or circumstances”. Under such circumstances spouses might become afraid of loved ones who they perceive to be traumatised and aggressive. Help is available and the Trident Foundation is just a phone call, email, fax or face-to-face visit away! References for this article are available on request. Next Service: Weddings Previous Service: Mediation
THE TRIDENT FOUNDATION
Phone: 403-678-2918
|
