The case study “Anna’s Submarine” makes it clear that a therapist can only lead someone out of a dream world if he or she also enters the dream world first. The path out of the dream world must also be attractive, and it must still be possible to return to the old patterns if necessary. The submarine intervention also involves the paradox that Anna is invited to leave her dream world while she is in her dream world, meaning that she can pursue both sides of the ambivalence with different parts of her personality; she can act in accordance with her previous pattern while at the same time trying a new pattern, although the old pattern will then not be quite the same as it was…
Anna dreams. She dreams while she’s at school with the other Year Four pupils, and she continues dreaming when she comes home after school. She lives in her dreams to the extent that no one really knows whether she is talented or stupid, simple-minded or subtle, shy or inhibited, introverted or mentally disturbed. Anna has no friends, and seems content with her own company. Anna appears to be happy when she is dreaming, or perhaps she only dreams because of how unhappy she would be if she were not dreaming? Anna twists and tugs on her hair until it falls out. She chews her fingernails until they bleed. Is Anna ill, or just quirky? Which school should she attend, and what is the best way to help her? Her parents want answers to these questions, and so they bring her to therapy.
“I believe you live in a submarine,” I say to Anna. She looks at me inquiringly.
“You dive down below the waves to a rainbow-like world of fish and coral and many other brightly coloured things which are unknown to the people living on the surface. Do you agree?” “Yes,” says Anna.
“It must be lovely down there. You can investigate the sea floor in peace, and no one can disturb you.” “That’s right,” says Anna.
“You can be a deep-sea researcher – someone who investigates the world of the deep on behalf of the people up on the surface. They find out everything there is to know about the animals and plants which live in the sea.” “That would be fun,” says Anna.
“All submarines need a periscope, of course. That’s a long tube with mirrors so that you can always see what’s happening up top even when you’re down below.” “And so I can watch the other people,” says Anna.
“Exactly. And you’ll also need a sonar system so that you don’t crash into other submarines or ships while you’re under water. The sonar system emits sound waves so that you know when others are coming too close, and when you should dive down deeper into the sea in order to avoid other submarines and ships.” “Do I have to go deeper?” asks Anna.
“Well, I’m sure you know that it’s not a good idea for two submarines or a submarine and a ship to crash into each other. Both vessels can be damaged, even if the collision was a mistake. It’s better to anticipate the accident and change course or dive down into the water in good time. In order to respond promptly, you need a microphone which picks up the signals of the other submarines and ships and a radio system so that you can talk to their crew even when you’re under the water.” “Yes, that’s a good idea. Then I won’t collide with them again.”
“Exactly. And of course every submarine has to come to the surface from time to time.” “Why?” “For oxygen, and for food and drink. You need to come to the surface every now and again to take them on board.” “Yes, you’re right.”
“Research submarines also have to come to the surface regularly so that the researchers can talk to the people up top about what they should be investigating down below.” “Really?”
“Of course. The submarine’s job is to find out what happens under the sea and to tell the people on land about it.” “Can submarines shoot at other people?”
“Yes, submarines have torpedoes, but they must only be used against enemy ships in an emergency. It’s better to talk using the radio, or to come to the surface and use the megaphone; ‘Hello, I heard your signals and came to the surface. What’s up?’ Submarine captains who are really good at their job spend a lot of time below the water and a lot of time above the water. They know the signals of the other ships so well that they always know when it’s better to come to the surface and when it’s better to dive down into the water. They also know when it’s a good idea to be half up and half down, like a crocodile which keeps only its eyes, ears and nostrils above the water so that it can see everything happening above the water, but is still well camouflaged and can dive down quickly if necessary. Sometimes submarines also travel along just below the surface of the sea so that only their conning tower is poking out. This allows them to find out everything which is happening above the water, and to hear all the signals they need to hear and see everything they need to see, but to reach the bottom of the sea quickly if they ever need to dive down.” “Cool,” says Anna. “I like that idea.” Like everyone else, submarine captains sometimes take a holiday and come on shore. They meet their friends, tell them about their voyages and hear about their friends’ experiences. I once knew a submarine captain who liked to fly a hydroplane in his spare time, looking from above at what he normally saw from below – the land and the water, the ships, the submarines and everything else. And when he had seen everything, he landed again, or splashed down as hydroplane pilots say. He knew the world from every perspective, and he was very happy.” “Cool,” said Anna. “I’d like to do that