Psychotherapy or Pseudotherapy

to a blanket as a sym bol of his mother's love, C . could use her knitting to endure leaving the safety of the hospital environment. She could then continue her projects at home; they would be constant reminders of the hospital and her therapist. Learning to knit may be seen as a metaphor for C.'s recovery. Like a snail peeking out from its shell, C. tentatively began to interact with me . Her knitting was at first full of holes and clumsily executed, as were her initi al att empts to relate to others. Gradually she became more skilled both at knitting and at deal ing with the outside world. Ultimately she even began to teach others how to knit and made gifts of her projects. C. has been well for two years now. She knits less frequ ently, and no longer attends a day program, takes psychotropics, or sees me regularly. For th e time being at least, she has managed to relocate within herself those supports that have helped her maintain a sense of well being. I like to think that in some sma ll way learning to knit may have aided her recovery.