ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an account of Emma, who as a child tried everything to get her father to respond to her – seduction, trying to be perfect, naughtiness, even shooting missiles at the wall. Sadly, some children addicted to 'bad-deal' relationships can, without therapeutic intervention, go on as adults to have one bleak, bad-deal relationship after another. Before therapy, children addicted to bad-deal relationships often turn away from loving relationships. Therapy or counselling is vital for children who have suffered a major loss or bereavement, and who have no one in their lives with whom they can really mourn. Without such a person, a child may find the intensity of the pain too much, and so cut himself off and harden his heart. This is a drastic defence, which can mean that in later life he may never dare to love again.
