ABSTRACT
It is common in psychotherapy for the client to be a victim: of society’s stigma, of family rejection, of economic or social injustice, of childhood or sexual abuse, or of psychiatric illness. Our clients suffer. However, some clients have committed horrible crimes against society, their families, or innocent victims: incarcerated prisoners, combat veterans, or psychotic patients who have become violent (e.g. who have killed their children). It is usual practice in developmental drama therapy for the perpetrator figure, whether super-ego, internalized critic, or real person, to be portrayed and worked with. However, what happens when the client is a perpetrator? What happens when the crimes have been against women and the therapist is a woman? Is therapy possible or even indicated in circumstances like these?
