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This article describes brief focused therapy with a traumatized girl whose symptoms in response to her mother's horrible suicide served to stabilize and fixate the bereaved family so that the loss of the mother could be avoided and denied. The therapists' decision to combine individual work with the child and family therapy is highlighted. An account is given of the interventions used to reduce the girl's phobic symptoms, preempt the possible development of incest, and allow the family to start grieving normally. Within a systems framework based on integrating Cathexis material with the racket system, a number of different approaches were used, including TA, Gestalt, behavioral techniques, and bereavement counseling.

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Charlotte Sills

Charlotte Sills, M.A., PTM, works in private psychotherapy practice, freelance consulting, and training.

Petrūska Clarkson

The case was treated while they were both under the supervision of Petrūska Clarkson, M.A., Ph.D. (Clin. Psych.), a clinical psychologist and Clinical Teaching Member of the ITAA. She is one of the two founding directions of metanoia Psychotherapy Training Institute in London and currently on the ITAA Board of Trustees.

Roland Evans

Roland Evans, M.A., Dip. Psych., works as a Senior Clinical Psychologist for Medway Health Authority, England, and in private practice.