ABSTRACT
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of illnesses that reduce the ability of the brain to function. The most common of these illnesses is Alzheimer’s disease, which, in the initial stages, is characterised by difficulties in establishing new, and by a gradual loss of fluency. The emphasis within psychotherapy on helping clients to resolve emotional threats, to take greater control over their lives and to find strategies to “live well” means that psychotherapy also potentially has much to offer within dementia care. Dementia represents a significant, potential threat to self not only because it is an incurable illness that involves a progressive decline ending ultimately in death but also because it is characterised by increasing dependency, the potential loss of identity and challenges to meaning and purpose. The chapter looks at case example of working with a woman with strong narcissistic tendencies to illustrate the potential impact of marital psychotherapy in easing adjustment and enhancing resilience.
