Psychodynamic Therapy with Children

Abstract

(from the chapter) This chapter examines psychodynamic therapy with children. It is noted that psychodynamic psychotherapy covers a wide range of treatment approaches. These range from child psychoanalysis, through once weekly individual therapy, group implementation, family based implementations and many others. Psychodynamic therapies in themselves differ in terms of the use made of expressive versus supportive techniques, the emphasis placed on play. In addition, there are major theoretical divisions that overlap in part with issues of technique originating from different understandings of the nature of development and psychopathology. Psychodynamic approaches, however, share an understanding of psychological abnormality as being a consequence of conflicting motivational states. Such states are often seen to be unconscious and the conflict created seems to be intrapsychic. This is not invariably the case, as approaches emphasizing interpersonal rather than intrapsychic conflicts have been gaining ground in contemporary psychodynamic theorization. Psychodynamic treatment is considered to be therapeutic because it helps individuals to build on their inherent capacities for understanding and emotional responsiveness. This is facilitated by a therapeutic relationship,and in particular by the therapist's communication of her understanding of the patient's conflicting motivations and responses to these conflicts. Via such intervention and the improved self-understanding and self-regulatory capacity that follow, the patient may be enabled to arrive at more adaptive solutions than the rather limited strategies that brought him to seek psychological help. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) (chapter)