Personality disorder programme No longer a diagnosis of exclusion

A trainee psychotherapist is looking to bring together a group of people, on Skype, to gain an understanding of the Masterson Approach to working with people with PD. Jo Moller is keen to introduce the approach into the UK as a valuable contribution to the existing range of treatments.

The Masterson approach, according to Jo, provides understanding of self and others, as well as the skills to be able to respond effectively. She discovered it through her own search for understanding and healing.

At the heart of the approach is:

• An understanding of the qualities of the Real Self (creativity, assertiveness, empathy, responsibility etc), how to support its recovery, re-growth and how its development is undermined and arrested (for more on the Real Self, see: www.selfinexile.com/the_Real_Self.html
  

• An understanding of the basic different disorders, how and why they are different.
• The tools and skills to address these differing internal dynamics of: borderline, narcissist and schizoid disorders.

Jo hopes all those in the group will deepen their understanding, improve their skills and focus for recovery. “As Viktor Frankl put it: ‘each situation is a call first to listen and then to respond’. The Masterson approach gives us the ability to listen and respond beyond the normal.”

The group is open to all who are working with personality disorders, have an interest in advancing the field, are are able to commit from a time point of view and are working at a reasonable academic level.

Jo added: “Whilst the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) categorises people by collections of behaviours, such as ‘mood swings’ for the borderline, ‘being a loner and not interested in relationship’ for the schizoid, the Masterson approach explains the internal experience which can so often be misunderstood. For example, about the schizoid: “They long to be attached, to be in relationships with others, and to receive affirmation, acknowledgement and approval of which they were deprived. However, this longing evokes an intense anxiety about being in danger of being appropriated, used and discarded as they were by their original caretakers. The only way to control their anxiety, to feel safe, is to withdraw internally as well as externally.” Barbera Short p.172 ‘Disorders of the Self – New Therapeutic Horizons’ Masterson + Klein

The group will kick off with three introductory session facilitated by Judith Pearson from New York, a therapist who is trained and experienced in working with the Masterson approach. The sessions, which are two hors long, will involve teaching, discussion, and on-going reading and study in-between. Case supervision can also be included.

The group is expected to include about six people – the time, start date and frequency, and cost are yet to be arranged.

For further information contact jo2dayone@tiscali.co.uk; 07930 941 916; or Judith Pearson: at judithpearson@verizon.net; 001 212 860 0151.