ABSTRACT
The Woman with Dissociation shows to an extraordinary degree the power of inner strength to raise the most appalling trauma—so much so that events showed her to be not merely a good candidate, but an outstanding candidate, for intensive short-term dynamic therapy. The therapy for the Woman with Dissociation consisted of 14 sessions, and follow-up took place 7 years after termination. She reveals a history of dissociation going back to childhood, which indicates a need for caution and careful assessment. Her main defence has been dissociation, originally quite conscious but automatic and beyond her control. Despite horrendous abuse as a child, and a long-standing history of severe and debilitating symptoms like migraine headaches and dissociation, she had many strengths and a fierce determination to get well. She was thinking about where she could make the best use her talents as well as has an impact on others. With this, she suggested that she was ready to end therapy.
