Analysing Identity

Part IVClinical issues

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 10 by Harris considers the utility of applying the ISA conceptual framework to elucidate disturbed states of identity from the perspective of clinical psychology. His approach is exploratory and concerns identifying characteristics of ‘mental health’ clients, and tracking the efficacy of therapeutic work with a client in a time-series case study with repeated identity structure analyses. ISA can be seen to have diagnostic utility in pinpointing specific representations of problematic identity issues. Harris uses ISA to assist in the therapeutic process by way of providing feedback on the client’s progress in dealing with such issues.

The authors of Chapter 11 present a case study of an anorexic client ...