Orgone Therapy: The Application of Functional Thinking in Medical Practice
Part XVI: Children and Adolescents
Charles Konia, M.D.
Reprinted from the Journal of Orgonomy, Vol. 29 No. 1
The American College of Orgonomy
The adolescent's contradictory behavior previously mentioned is the manner in which the blocked sexual energy is partially discharged. Some forms of behavioral contradiction follow. On the one hand, the adolescent is egotistical and self-centered and, on the other, capable of selflessness and great self-sacrifice. The adolescent may suddenly fall turbulently in love and just as quickly lose all interest in the love object. There may be alternating periods of strict asceticism and unrestrained impulsivity. At certain times, social behavior and interactions may be rude and inconsiderate and at other times. highly sensitive. Intense erotic feelings may oscillate with strong sexual moralism (2:36-44).
If the adolescent does not have a heterosexual outlet, the only possibility for relief of sexual tension is through masturbation. The degree to which sexual satisfaction cannot be obtained determines the degree to which the adolescent is driven to desperate measures in an attempt to obtain relief from intolerable inner tension. In extreme cases, where there is no chance of either satisfying or curbing sexual impulses, the adolescent has little choice but drug abuse, delinquency, homosexuality, or suicide.
Of all the reasons given for why adolescents "go wrong," no one dares mention their genital frustration, even in our age of sexual enlightenment. Furthermore, any discussion of the adolescent problem is complicated by confusing the secondary, destructive drives which lead to drug abuse, homosexuality, promiscuity, etc. with the primary drives which lead to genital union and sexual gratification with a partner of the opposite sex. As always, confusing primary and secondary drives not only evades the essential problem and effectively obstructs arriving at a rational solution to social problems, but often leads to further social irrationalism by asking people to take sides either "for" or "against" a mixed package of primary and secondary impulses. This paralyzing obfuscation makes the plight of children and adoles-cents inaccessible to any rational intervention.
It is not possible to provide adolescents with effective help without an understanding of the importance of adolescent sexuality and how disturbances in their sexual life cause so many of their problems. This has been amply demonstrated by the limited value of past and current treatments that have all but ignored adolescent sexuality. By overlooking the distinction between primary and secondary drives, all those who render treatment remain helpless to deal effectively with the serious problems of adolescence. The result is that the adolescent is often shifted from one therapeutic intervention to another until he or she "grows out of the problem" by forming a stable adult character structure. Of those who fail to do so, some are at risk of becoming chronically maladjusted while others may develop severe character disorders or commit suicide.
The question of adolescent responsibility, as with any other issue of personal and social importance, can only be productively addressed in a functional manner. Moralistic or anti-moralistic attitudes serve no enduring constructive end.
As for responsibility for therapy, the adolescent lies approximately midway between the child and the adult. It is the function of the therapist to decide with the adolescent the capacity of the adoles-cent to assume responsibility in any given clinical situation. 8 Also, characterological and transferential issues may present fleetingly and are dealt with as they arise. A major difference in the therapy of adolescents and that of children and adults is that adolescent treatment does not require total removal of armor. Because of the strong sexual push, the adolescent needs much of his armor. The focus of therapy of the adolescent is threefold:
A sixteen-year-old female was admitted to a psychiatric hospital because of a suicidal gesture. She made several superficial lacerations on the inside of her wrist after separation from a girlfriend with whom she had become homosexually involved in another psychiatric hospital. She was admitted to that institution from her own home because she was often involved in physically violent arguments with her mother and an older brother. While hospitalized, she had developed homosexual relationships with several other female patients.
The patient, who is of Jewish origin, was born in Hungary during the Nazi occupation. Before six months of age, she was separated from her parents and placed in the care of a local family with whom she lived until immediately after the war. Her own parents were incarcerated in concentration camps.
After the war, when she was about five years old, she was reunited with her mother and brother for several months. Because patient and mother were of different nationalities, they could not emigrate together to the United States. She was again separated from her mother, sent to the United States alone, and placed in a series of foster homes for periods varying from several months to one year. During her many of these placements, she was physically abused by her foster parents. At the age of ten, she was finally reunited with her mother and brother. By this time she was exhibiting severe emotional difficulties which manifested in frequent, often physically violent, argu-ments with her mother and brother. It was after one of these episodes that she was transferred to a psychiatric facility.
On initial consultation in the psychiatric hospital, I found that her tough appearance masked her underlying softness and anxiety. Although she felt frightened, her eyes were bright and occasionally seductive, and she made good contact. She was intelligent, clear-headed, and well-motivated to help herself - Her lips were full and her massetter muscles were tight. Her shoulders were large and somewhat stooped and she had large breasts. Diagnostically, she was an oral unsatisfied hysteric. I treated her for four months in the hospital and she continued in therapy with me after discharge.
During the first session she spoke with nostalgia and longing about her early childhood. This was followed by feelings of painful regret about her experiences of constant rejection and emotional abuse in foster homes. She felt the stark contrast between her early happy family life and the later "living hell" being with her own mother and brother. She felt at a crossroad in her life and needed help to find her way.
The initial phase of therapy was character-analytic. I focused on her fear of men, including her tranferential fear of me, and supported her in her desire to become independent and to have a heterosexual relationship. The defensive nature of her homosexual attachments was identified and understood by her as a substitute for the warmth and affection that her mother was unable to provide. At the same time, she faced her fear of her heterosexual feelings.
Gradually, she was able to give up her homosexual behavior, and by facing her fear of men, establish heterosexual relationships. This was accompanied by attaining independence in her work and social functions. She continued her therapy as she reached adulthood.
Because their armor has not yet been consolidated, medical orgone therapy of children and adolescents is less complicated and more straightforward than the therapy of adults. A major difficulty affecting outcome is the pathogenic milieu, specifically, the family relationships and home environment. In treating children, parental cooperation is necessary. Without the full cooperation and understanding of the parents, one can expect only limited success. In other words, the greater the cooperation of the parents, the more favorable the prognosis. As adolescents approach adulthood, they can generally accept more responsibility and can be treated more as adults. The most difficult cases involve children and adolescents of dysfunctional families. The children and adolescents are usually severely disturbed and full parental cooperation is difficult or impossible to obtain. Of critical importance is the extent to which contactful sex-affirmative expression in the home is tolerated.
8. The question of adolescent responsibility, as with any other issue of personal and social importance, can only be productively addressed in a functional manner. Moralistic or anti-moralistic attitudes serve no enduring constructive end.
1. Reich, W., Children of the Future. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1983.
2. Raknes, 0. "Puberty and its Educational Problems," Journal of Orgonomy, 3(1), 1969.
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