ABSTRACT
This chapter, by describing the work in a long-term, intensive psychotherapeutic treatment, shows how the absence of a safe, predictable, physically and emotionally present mother is one of the factors that underlies and encourages splitting in an attempt to avoid feelings of emptiness and the inability to connect with others. It presents some preliminary observations about the absent mother, splitting, and narcissism. The chapter gives a case illustration that demonstrates both the real possibilities and the limitations of what can be achieved with narcissistic patients. It shows how psychotherapeutic treatment can make a narcissistic patient more conscious of his/her angry feelings towards the early mother, thus reducing the need to idealize her. To some extent, this awareness frees him/her to use his conflict more constructively.
