The Technique of Child Psychoanalysis: Discussions with Anna Freud / Edition 1

by Joseph Sandler, Hansi Kennedy, Robert L. Tyson

Overview

This book distills the essence of child psychoanalysis from the practice and thought of its founder Anna Freud, who for over 50 years has been at the forefront of this controversial field. Children are the most refractory of all subjects to treat analytically. Here, for the first time, is a primer on the difficult technique as practiced at the Hampstead Clinic in London, which was founded by Anna Freud and is today the leading child analytic center in the world. She and her colleagues expose their wealth of experience to systematic review, which yields up rich insights not only into child psychoanalysis and psychotherapy but also into basic child development. In addition, their findings have relevance to the understanding of emotional disturbance at all ages.

The book follows the treatment situation through all its stages, from the first session to termination and follow-up. It focuses on the interaction between therapist and child in the treatment room, illustrating the points with copious clinical vignettes. One point examined is the structure of treatment with respect to such matters as scheduling sessions and handling interruptions. Another element that comes under scrutiny is the development of the child's relationship to the therapist, which subsumes such factors as establishing an alliance, transference, and resistance. The child's repertoire of expressions, both verbal and nonverbal, is explored, as is the therapist's armamentarium of interpretations and interventions. Woven throughout the description of these elements is incisive commentary by Anna Freud. Her commonsense approach gives the book unique value, lifting it to a rare level of human wisdom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674871014
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	01/01/1986
Series:	Discussions with Anna Freud
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.45(d)

Editorial Reviews

One of the most important contributions to the literature of child psychoanalysis to appear in recent years.

Psychoanalytic Quarterly

A long-needed, systematic presentation of technique, set in a firm foundation of classic and well-reasoned psychoanalytic theory… It comes as a gift to child analysts and therapists of all persuasions.

Psychoanalytic Review

Enormously useful for personal study and contemplation of therapeutic issues as well as an excellent source of topics and concepts around which a seminar on therapy could be organized.

Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic