Intake & Presenting Somatic Complaint
Shubhika Singh & B. L. Dubey
(SIS Journal of Projective Psychology & Mental Health, (2022):29:1, 51-56).
The Somatic Imagery Test (online version) was administered to a 24-year-old male with complaints of guilt associated to child pornography surfing, porn dependence to fall asleep, depressive features and low self-esteem. The inkblot images were helpful to bring out high level of frustration, interpersonal conflict, sexual preoccupation, and body image issues which supported the client's report and aided the process of psychotherapeutic intervention.
The Case:
The client is a 24-year-old male, working as a software developer and currently single. He was referred for the main complaints of guilt associated to child pornography surfing, porn dependence to fall asleep, depressive features and low self-esteem. He has undergone 16 sessions of psychotherapy so far and he is feeling better.
He reported having viewed child porn consciously i.e., out of will a few times and was feeling severe guilt for doing the same. The client watches porn daily at night before sleeping. On probing, the client reported that h
The Projective Stimulus & Subconscious Projection
Image 15: “On the first glance, it seemed like a vagina with some vaginal ring connected to the bottom and blood coming out of it. On giving it a closer look, I can see an amoeba which has eaten some fish with small legs at the bottom.” The response “blood coming out of it” may indicate aggression towards females and sexual preoccupation.
Image 16: “It seemed like a vagina with some vaginal ring connected to the bottom and blood coming out of it. On giving it a closer look, I can see an amoeba which has eaten some fish with small legs at the bottom.” Avoiding common response of a fetus may indicate sexual preoccupation and masculine inadequacy.”
Clinician Decoding & Subconscious Dynamics
During puberty and early adolescence, the client reported being a “pervert” - in his words. On exploration, he reports being a consumer of regular heavy porn usage and his choice of preferred video category was ‘voyeurism’. He also disclosed acting on his voyeuristic desires i.e. putting cameras in girls’ toilets in school, peeking through windows and sneakily watching his mother and aunt bathe or change clothes. He also reports groping or touching inappropriately his younger sister in her sleep. The client has had 2 sexual encounters where both were not up to his satisfaction as he didn’t achieve full erection, and it did not match the images viewed in porn. The client also reported having suicidal ideas as he felt he isn’t a good person and has done something wrong and unacceptable.
Preoccupation with sexual fantasies and curiosity to explore them is common and natural during adolescence and young adulthood. But, when that curiosity and desire begins to affect one’s self concept and interferes in one’s concentration, daily life, and productivity, then, it indicates unhealthy sexual concept. To ascertain his personality and unconscious motives, a projective personality tool - Somatic Inkblot Test (online version, Dubey et al,
Treatment Intervention & Longitudinal Recovery
Intervention Strategy: SIT diagnostic assessment followed by cognitive and psychodynamic therapeutic intervention.
Longitudinal Outcome: Resolution of acute somatic complaints and successful integration of affective boundaries.
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