Working through the body in Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy to
change relational patterns in dependent personality disorder: The case
of Lia
Abstract
Persons with dependent personality disorder (DPD) have difficulties
describing their inner world, and in realizing their negative ideas
about the self, such as being weak, unworthy or powerless are just
ideas. As a consequence, they tend to over-rely on others and may lose
control over their emotions. Treating these persons can gain benefits
from including body-focused techniques as they can promote a) awareness
of internal states, b) better emotion regulation, c) the capacity to
consider their negative ideas about themselves as not necessarily true,
and d) gain power of and agency. We will describe the therapist used
body-focused techniques in the context of Metacognitive Interpersonal
Therapy when treating Lia, a 40-year-old woman suffering from DPD who
also suffered from generalized anxiety disorder and had difficulties in
making autonomous choices. She had a romantic relationship with a man
she described as distant and judgmental so she felt lonely and not
entitled to express her discomfort or capable to break up. The therapist
used body-focused techniques, together with behavioural exposure,
mindfulness and guided imagery, in order to let Lia be more aware of her
thoughts and feelings, and then to regulate affects and realize she had
previously capacities. At therapy termination anxiety diminished and she
could break up with the partner and start a new one where she felt free
to express herself. We suggest how bodily-focused techniques can be used
to enhance therapy effectiveness in DPD.