This article discusses treatment of an adult West Indian female who was the victim of incest during childhood and adolescence. West Indian immigrants are these African-Caribbeans from the English-speaking Caribbean Islands who subsequently immigrated to the United States. Studies of West Indians provide a knowledge base for incorporation into appropriate and culture-specific treatment techniques. Winnicott’s object relations constructs of holding processes and facilitating environment are expanded to incorporate cultural knowledge in the interventions for this case study. As the client works through the experiences of the sexual abuse, ego integration results in a developing maturity in love and work. © 1994 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

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object relation case report female immigrant Central America cultural factor Child Abuse ego maturity sexual abuse psychodynamics Article United States human adult incest