ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on therapeutic goals and strategies of the midphase, and, in particular, on overcoming resistance that may arise during the period. In virtually all of our cases, the spouse has already become a part of the treatment, although typically he has not entered therapy as an individual client with his own set of problems and issues apart from those of the survivor or couple. Empowerment of the survivor occurs in four areas of her life: development of a new marital contract; building parenting skills, if appropriate; working on career issues; and confronting the members of her family of origin. Treatment may get bogged down in this phase because of the survivor’s resistance to change. Difficulties, dissatisfaction, and failures in work and career often represent a major blockage in the healing process for survivors. An important part of the midphase work is the confrontation of the survivor’s family of origin.
