The Negative Effects of Abortion — A Case Study

Abstract

By using a case study as a methodological framework, the article presents the topic of abortion from the perspective of a person who either committed it or intended to commit it, as well as of a person who survived a planned abortion and in whose family abortions had already been done, a topic which has been researched very little. The case study illustrates psychotherapy with a client in psychodynamic psychotherapy through the course of several years. The article, along with an introduction and conclusion, consists of the following main sections: in the first section the article speaks of a theoretical framework on the attitude towards abortion in the world and, more specifically, in Croatia. The second part illustrates the therapeutic interventions undertaken during therapy, as well as a less well–known (in Croatia, at least) inner child healing technique which is presented in greater detail. The inner child healing technique is based on one of Jungian’s archetypes, namely the Divine Child archetype, and later was developed by several psychologists and psychotherapists. particularly by John Bradshaw in his books Homecoming and Healing the Shame that Binds You. Finally, the article depicts a particular case study with all the details, including an analysis of the separation problem between the client and her mother which arose from a planned abortion. This is followed by a discussion and conclusion.