My Ten-Month-Old Co-Therapist Or How I Survived When the Babysitter Quit

Abstract

Despite the gains made in the last 25 years by the feminist movement, finding adequate childcare continues to be a problem. When I became a first time single mother at age 46, I expected that the road ahead would be difficult; but I never realized that finding a trustworthy babysitter on whom I could rely would be one of the biggest problems that I would face. In this essay I describe what happened when as a result of a caregiver's rapid departure, my ten-month old became a part of my patients' sessions. The seemingly positive impact of her presence was a surprise and raises two age-old questions. What about therapy is therapeutic? And what causes change?

Journal of Feminist Family Therapy Volume 9, 1997 - Issue 2