The external situation: Learning to cook and attending a psychotherapy group as well as analysis

Gradually Susan recovered from the extreme dependence on Mrs Brown and became restless. In the end, it was anxiety about what she called Mrs Brown’s possessiveness of her, which she felt was ‘homosexual’, that led her first to advertise and then get a daily house-cleaning job, though still sleeping at Mrs Brown’s; and later an ‘au pair’ living-in job with a large family. She stayed in this job for eight years, not being paid for her work, but continuing to receive a weekly allowance from the National Assistance Board.