1st Edition

Psychodynamic Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Theories and Methods

    Psychodynamic Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy is both a textbook and book of reference for all child and adolescent psychotherapists. It addresses both novices, who need to learn the theories and methods of the work, and also experienced psychotherapists, who want to expand their knowledge, at the same time getting a readily-accessible update and revival of the many ways in which psychodynamic child and adolescent psychotherapy enters into contemporary practice. The book offers a clear, methodologically precise and updated introduction to the theories, methods and practice of the field.

    The authors demonstrate through practical examples what psychodynamic child and adolescent psychotherapy is, and how a psychotherapy can be planned and carried out, expounding the necessary preconditions, settings and methods. A personal understanding of the complexity of the therapeutic relationship is presented together with an elucidation of drawings and symbolic play, parallel work with parents, and the special conditions for work with adolescents. A special section deals with the meaning of time, beginnings, endings, and breaks in psychotherapy, followed by a part about the methodological adaptations necessary for psychotherapy with children and adolescents suffering from maltreatment and complex trauma. Psychodynamic Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy ends with a description of the present state of research in the field.

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, ABOUT THE AUTHORS, FOREWORD, INTRODUCTION, PART I: FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHODYNAMIC CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOTHERAPY, CHAPTER ONE: Psychodynamic theories of development and psychopathology, CHAPTER TWO: What is psychodynamic child and adolescent psychotherapy?, CHAPTER THREE: Referral and assessment, PART II: THERAPEUTIC SETTINGS AND THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP, CHAPTER FOUR: Therapeutic settings in child and adolescent psychotherapy, CHAPTER FIVE: The therapeutic relationship, CHAPTER SIX: Understanding drawings and symbolic play, CHAPTER SEVEN: Work with parents, CHAPTER EIGHT: Psychotherapy with adolescents, PART III: THE EXPERIENCE OF TIME IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF OBJECT RELATIONSHIPS, CHAPTER NINE: Beginnings and endings of child and adolescent psychotherapy, CHAPTER TEN: Breaks: a window to fundamental relationship themes, PART IV: PSYCHOTHERAPY WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE SUFFERED MALTREATMENT AND COMPLEX TRAUMA, CHAPTER ELEVEN: Psychotherapy in the aftermath of early neglect and abuse, CHAPTER TWELVE: Psychotherapy with children who have suffered complex trauma, PART V: RESEARCH IN PSYCHODYNAMIC CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOTHERAPY, CHAPTER THIRTEEN: The present state of research in psychodynamic child and adolescent psychotherapy, REFERENCES, INDEX

    Biography

    Liselotte Grünbaum, MSc, PhD, is a registered psychologist, and a specialist and supervisor of psychotherapy and child psychology in private practice in Copenhagen. She was a founding member and course organiser of the Danish Association of Psychoanalytic Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, and since 1997 has been a supervisor and teacher at the Danish training programme for Psychoanalytic Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists. She organised the child psychotherapy clinic at Aalborg University and is the clinic's supervisor. She is also a member of the EFPP research group, a former coordinator of this group and of the EFPP's Child and Adolescent Section, and has published a number of articles.

    Karen Vibeke Mortensen is a registered M.Sc. in Psychology, Dr Paed., and group analyst. She is an honorary Professor of clinical child psychology at Aalborg University and in private practice in Copenhagen. She is a specialist and supervisor of psychotherapy and child psychology and is supervisor and teacher on the Danish training programme for Psychoanalytic Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists. She has extensive teaching and supervision experience and has edited books and articles about various clinical and theoretical subjects. Her doctoral thesis, Form and Content in Children's Human Figure Drawings, was published by New York University Press in 1991.

    ‘We are fortunate that this comprehensive book by two highly respected Danish Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists, has been translated into English. Grunbaum and Vibeke Mortensen bring their extensive experience as clinicians, teachers and researchers to their book, with a clarity of thinking which will be helpful to experienced mental health professionals, as well as those in training. It is an excellent teaching resource, offering a diversity of theoretical views, as well as discussing the many practical issues which need to be considered when working with child and adolescent patients.’-Monica Lanyado, Ph.D., Training Supervisor, British Psychotherapy Foundation

    ‘This is a book written with clarity and completeness, by empathic, thoughtful, highly experienced clinicians. Vigorous theoretically, supported by case material, it is a pleasure to read. Nothing is left out or missed. The authors thoroughly explore the meaning and consequence of every clinical phenomenon and intervention. Apart from the therapeutic process per se, they describe in detail the assessment, the work with parents and the therapeutic alliance, while keeping a critical eye on the of DSM and ICD approaches to diagnostic classification. The chapters on psychodynamic psychotherapy with children who have suffered maltreatment and complex trauma, are a book in themselves, valuable to anyone with limited experience in these kinds of severe psychopathology. The chapter on research is another gift to readers. I believe that this is a most valuable book to trainees and young colleagues, but one that can also serve as an excellent teaching tool in the hands of senior psychotherapists. I feel that this book will deservedly become a classic in the field.’ -Dimitris Anastasopoulos M.D., Ph.D., Psychiatrist & Child Psychiatrist; Chair of the Hellenic Association of Child & Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (HACAPP), teaching and supervising member of HACAPP and the Hellenic Association of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (HAPP); honorary member of the Cyprus Association of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

    "Liselotte Grünbaum​ and Karen Vibeke Mortensen from their extensive experience, lay out clearly a detailed   history and road map of child analysis and psychotherapy, with glimpses of the highs and lows that are part of this kind of work and conclude with a chapter about research in the field. In a book that is comprehensive in scope, the  authors outline, often in considerable detail, many details of technique and practice which would help not only a beginning therapist but also aid experienced practitioners in reviewing their practice. On the way, the book is illustrated with rich examples in which we hear the children and adolescents speak."-Frances Thomson-Salo, Associate Professor, University of Melbourne, Australia; child and adult psychoanalyst; Member, British Psychoanalytic and Australian Societies