A combined approach to the treatment of effeminate behaviour in a boy: a case study

This paper describes the treatment of a 5 1/2-year-old boy with persistent effeminate behaviour. He had individual therapy sessions over 21 months while a social worker worked with his parents and maternal grandmother. The therapists combined psychodynamic and behavioural elements in their work, aiming at understanding the obstacles to masculine behaviour and helping the family achieve the change. At termination there were positive changes in the child, his parents and grandmother, which were maintained at follow-up 6 months, 15 months and 3 years later. The relevance of inhibited aggression confused with masculinity in all members of the family is discussed.