About the Symbiosis Mother-Child in Adults: Discussion on the &i&Endotherapy&/i& Taboo

摘要

This paper discusses the possibility to accept in individual psychoanalysis (or sometimes psychotherapy) two members of the same family by the same analyst, with particular attention to the “dyad” mother-adult child. We examine the history of the strong interdiction of this practice in the psychoanalytical doctrine and we argue that there are situations where this practice is not only acceptable but very beneficial to the patient, and indeed to both members of the dyad. When the mother-adult child relationship is fusional, the therapist can act as “third” entity by creating two private spaces (the two therapeutic settings) that introduce a first separation between the two fusional elements. We introduce the term endotherapy for this, indicating the “insertion” of the therapist “from within” the fusional couple to provide some leeway to both mother and child to ease a stressful and energy-wasting emotional situation. The clinical case of a fusional dyad between mother and daughter is presented where this practice has helped into alleviating the fusional state and the tensions and has allowed the daughter to progress in her adult life.