ABSTRACT
Traumatized patients like Marie-Helene may begin treatment by developing an idealized tie to the therapist that reflects a reparative quest (Kaufmann, 2012). We term this pursuit a reparative quest because the patient is attempting to experience a relationship with the therapist that will undo significant traumas from the past and secure the future against the threat of re-traumatization. This pursuit may be seen as having developmental and defensive dimensions, with the patient seeking to make up for meaningful experiences that were missing in childhood and protect against the re-experiencing of painful affect associated with childhood trauma. In its self-protective aspect, it reflects and reinforces the patient’s disavowal of significant formative trauma.
