ABSTRACT
Twins seek out psychotherapy for different reasons that are typically related to the family’s ability to be attuned to their struggles. How twins deal with the attachment that they share with their twin and the stressful events that they have had to process as children and as adults is highly variable, and therefore there is no one-size-fits-all psychotherapy for twins. Because twins naturally measure themselves against one another, they often have difficulty seeing themselves independently of how their twin sees them. The best strategy for helping twins to develop a fully individual identity is to encourage twins to be proud of themselves, no matter what their twin thinks. Psychotherapy can help twins develop their singular interests and friendships and to feel comfortable just being themselves. This chapter discusses 22 specific questions psychotherapists should ask their twin patients, and five questions twins should ask of psychotherapists. It also identifies seven common misunderstandings that create treatment impasses with twins and describes realistic therapeutic goals that promote mature twin relationships.
