ABSTRACT
Everything happens at once in therapy, but it takes a long time to unfold—so it sometimes feels. This chapter provides an example about a girl named as Penelope (Penny). She was beautiful and expressive, yet lips pursed, somewhat twisted with tension. Penny was nothing if not intensely penetrating, totally fearful of her penetrating power. Penny spoke about how badly she felt over not taking a course taught by a particular nice teacher. She knew she would not take it just because he was good to her, or to avoid bad feelings. She felt a deep sense of loss—piercing, ripping loss. Penny felt that she could not leave these men because she feared losing her father's goodness. Penny had treasured his love and closeness. Penny felt affirmed by him—physically, emotionally, mentally. He died abruptly in her early teens, the shock of her life, leaving her emotionally stranded. Penny feared being too alive, lest she die like her father.
