Envy and anger in a boarding-school setting

Abstract

This paper looks at social work practice in a boarding-school setting. Individual work with mothers of two of the children is described, and structures which may help the school in dealing directly with parents are examined, focussing particularly on feelings of envy and anger. The counter-transference feelings of the worker in this kind of setting are touched on briefly, and it is concluded that a link with a boarding-school may be a useful tool in establishing support and working with deprived families.