Progress in Resolving Splitting Tendencies: A Qualitative Case Report of Facing Conflicting Fears with Relationality, Humility, and Patience

Splitting as a psychological defence by patients who struggle to process dichotomies remains an important focus in current therapy trials. Such case research done in a cross-cultural context of therapist and patient is limited. The present qualitative case report involves a 44-year-old male who had two conflicting fears, inherently making those fears inaccessible since resolving one fear exacerbated the other opposing fear. We provide a narrative discussion of the case learning from the therapist-in-training and her supervisor. Building a solid relational focus grounded in a social constructionist approach played a vital role in the therapeutic and supervisory process. In this process, attention to therapy as a performed conversation, humility, patience, dialogue, persuasion and self-awareness were crucial concepts. This case report marks how a developmental space for both patient and therapist was co-created and how resolving of splitting tendencies could commence.