NCJ Number
168180
Date Published
1997
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This paper describes the personal history and course of therapy of a female arsonist.
Abstract
Ms T was a 30-year-old woman who referred herself for therapy because she was becoming frightened by her increasing need to start fires. Although she had not been convicted for any arson offenses, she admitted to setting fire to at least two residential institutions. She had a history of childhood trauma, including physical and sexual abuse by her father. Her mother died of cancer when Ms T was 12 years old, and she was given an out-of-home placement at the age of 14 when her family rejected her. Psychiatric services began when she was under medical care due to repeated self-mutilation and threats against her father. Her treatment was once-a-week psychoanalytical psychotherapy; initially, trust was the main issue. Her childhood experiences had left her feeling dangerously angry and had given rise to her need to keep a stash of gasoline bombs in her wardrobe. She also described a need to keep instruments of self-harm readily available. She appeared to be desperately seeking containment while trying to resolve her inner turmoil. In the early transference, Ms T viewed the therapist as an idealized mother figure from whom she sought love and protection. Some months into therapy a particular neighbor became a focus for her anger and a potential victim for her gasoline bombs. For some time the therapeutic work focused on her murderous rage, its origins, and how she might deal with it more appropriately. Shortly after this crisis, she gave the therapist a "gift" of her stash of gasoline bombs. This was symbolic of giving the therapist responsibility for her murderousness, literally splitting it off and handing it over. As therapy progressed, she became more and more vulnerable, and after a year into therapy she is adjusting to the loss of her mother and has begun to work toward disclosure of the abuse by her father. As the work continues, the therapist hopes to help her develop insight into how she is locked into torture, suffering, and pain. She continues to be a risk to both herself and others, but she indicates she feels safer and more contained in therapy.