Developmentally impaired boys coming of age

Psychotherapy for children with significant developmental impairments often focuses on specific, symptom-targeted treatments. While often effective, these treatments do not address the impaired view these children have of themselves. Adolescence and the struggles to come to terms with sexuality, present a unique opportunity for the psychodynamically oriented therapist to confirm what is normal and expand domains of relatedness. The cases of three boys are described in which the therapy played a vital role in normalizing their adolescent experiences. These boys carried diagnoses of Asperger's Syndrome, Aspergers's with Bipolar Disorder, and Multi-dimensionally Impaired. With more of a sense of normalcy about their drives, as well as the pressure of the drives themselves, these boys were able to establish both sexual and friendship relationships beyond expectations.