ABSTRACT
In this chapter I would like to describe and discuss problems I have encountered in engaging some young men in individual long-term psychotherapy at the Brandon Centre. They seemed to convey a message that appeared to say, ‘You can’t help me’. In addition, I have been frequently struck by how little progress they feel they have made in their lives. Young people of their age have often achieved much and experienced considerable inner psychic change, which has led to progress being made in their social and sexual relationships, in a field of study or in developing a choice of occupation. Because of this lack of progress, these young men seem to have become thoroughly demoralised and to be giving up struggling with life. This gives rise to the implicitly fatalistic sentiment of ‘you can’t help me’. And yet they come for help and therein lies a paradox because they clearly wish to be helped.
