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Elsa
has grown up in a liberal lower middle class family who were in the
process of moving from rented to owned housing when we first met, and
family resources were somewhat stretched. Through her school years her
identity seemed to lie predominantly in being different and an
individual, and enjoying more cultural and alternative activities than
most of her peers. Her critical appraisal and non-acceptance of aspects
of authority defined her as more mature than them in many views and
attitudes. While being somewhat different and rebellious, she also
demonstrated a stable side in terms of friendships and her part time
working experience. At school she maintained a small close group of
female friends, but no boyfriends. As she got older, a concern with
weight and body image was revealed. She was quite competent at school,
but had no major ambitions, believing that it is better not to know
where you are going in life, but just see what happens. What happened
was a disappointing set of exam results so she was unable to go to her
desired university, and had to cancel a gap year and take another
place. Here she found that although her course did not inspire her, she
enjoyed the location, and developed a steady relationship with a
boyfriend, and sorted out her weight. After she graduated, work had to
be postponed as she had to have an operation, but her boyfriend looked
after her, life eventually got back on track, and she was contemplating
doing a postgraduate course.
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