Homosexual preoccupation in a gero-psychiatric client: a case for psychoanalytically oriented therapy

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychoanalysis
• Gerontology

Background:

• Female identification development is linked to individuation.
• Regression to symbiotic stages can occur with failed individuation.
• Aging homosexual females face unique challenges with loss and separation.

Observation:

• The case study involves a 70-year-old homosexual female.
• The patient's history is used to illustrate theoretical points.
• Separation and loss are significant issues in later life.

Findings:

• Failure in individuation precedes difficulties in female identification.
• Self-object differentiation is crucial for coping with loss.
• Psychoanalytically oriented therapy is effective for aging homosexual females.

Implications:

• Understanding individuation failures is key to addressing female identification issues.
• Therapeutic approaches must consider developmental stages and life transitions.
• Psychoanalytic therapy offers a viable treatment for aging homosexual women experiencing loss.