ABSTRACT
This chapter describes a procedure where defenses are systematically addressed in the treatment situation. People utilize defenses and defense mechanisms, mainly unconsciously, to negotiate ongoing mental conflict and to cope with the unpleasant emotional states provoked by the conflict. Some defense mechanisms are more adaptive while others are maladaptive. From the beginning of his career, Sigmund Freud was aware of the centrality of defense in mental life. The interesting about the phenomenal observations is that they are very similar to the description of the phenomena discussed by Berta Bornstein and is a central tenet of Regulation-Focused Psychotherapy for Children (RFP-C) with externalizing disorders. A central tenet of RFP-C is that children with externalizing behaviors have an extraordinarily difficult time experiencing painful affects, resulting in the utilization of maladaptive coping and defensive activity. A patient's defensive activity in a session can be observed directly by the clinician.
