Bion’s Thinking on Psychotic and Non-Psychotic Functioning Applied to Work with an Adolescent Psychotherapy Group

Abstract

This paper explores Bion’s thinking about the co-existence of psychotic and non-psychotic states in the personality. I contend that Bion’s description of psychotic states, in particular, is highly relevant when applied to adolescent states of mind. The processes that emerged from an adolescent psychotherapy group are presented to provide an illustration of Bion’s thinking and to reinforce the idea that such states are indeed present during the adolescent process. This work was undertaken in London, and the paper began its journey towards publication during the latter part of my work with this group and since my arrival here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Whakarāpopotonga

E wherawhera ana tēnei pepa i te tirohanga a Bion ki te nohotahitanga o te mate rangirua me te kore-rangiruatanga mai o te āhua tuakiri. E tautohe ana au i te whakamāramatanga o te noho rangiruatanga, inarā, e tino hāngai ana inā whakatauhia ki te hinengaro o te taiohi. Ko ngā whakaputaranga i puta mai i ngā whakarōpūtanga kaiwhakaora hinengaro taiohi e whakatauhia ana hai whakaahua i ngā whakaaro o Bion, ā, hai tautoko ake i te whakaaro e mau ana aua āhua i te wā tipuranga o te taiohi. I mahia tēnei mahi i Rānana, ka tīmata ake te haerenga o tēnei pepa kia tāia i te pito whakamutunga o taku mahi i te taha o tēnei rōpū, ā, mai i taku taenga mai ki Aotearoa.