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Case study

An integrative approach — working through fear — case study of a
10-year-old boy

Dorathea Thompson

Abstract
Persistent, excessive fear can be debilitating and a block to all levels of an individual’s growth. Left
untreated, permanent alterations in brain chemistry can develop. This is especially of concern when the
patient is a 10-year-old boy suffering from increasingly unabated fear, spanning over more than a year,
which is deeply troubling and disruptive to him and his entire family. In this case study presentation,
we will detail the case history and progress by providing the psychoanalyst’s notes and the direct
correspondence received from the patient’s father. The author highlights the methodologies employed
and states why they were chosen, comparing their results with the desired objectives.

Patient history, correspondence and • How long has this situation been going on?
updates
• Was there an event that triggered the
Andrew (a privacy pseudonym) is an adorable onset?
and otherwise well-adjusted ten-year-old boy
who comes from a psychologically informed • Is there a phase he is going through that
and supportive family. When his father is challenging, frightening or anxiety-
reached out to me, the situation had been provoking?
getting progressively worse over a span of
more than a year, interfering with his sleep, • Based on your best assessment, are there
his home life and social life. fears that he may have, and that he may be
projecting onto these imagined creatures?
Below is a combination of correspondence and
notes that provide background information 19.09.16, Notes from Andrew’s father
and progress details on the case: received via e-mail:

Information I requested from Andrew’s Andrew has always been a good sleeper. It
father prior to our first session: started months ago when he started coming

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