The Mother and Her Child: Clinical Aspects of Attachment, Separation, and Loss, edited by Salman Akhtar focuses upon the formation of an individual's self in the crucible of the early mother-child relationship. Akhtar brings together contributions from distinguished psychoanalysts and child observational researchers to explore the nuances of mothering and the child’s tie to the mother. Dr. Akhtar and his colleagues are to be congratulated for producing a volume about mothers and their infants and children which can serve as a basic text in child development. The authors very clearly and carefully communicate the importance of integrating ideas from multiple perspectives. It is an unusually useful volume for all mental health professionals. Contributions by Anni Bergman Ph.D; Inga Blom; Jennifer Bonovitz; Virginia M. Brabender Ph.D; M. Hossein Etezady M.D.; April E. Fallon; Newell Fischer M.D.; Alexandra M. Harrison M.D.; Anna Ornstein M.D.; Daniela Polyak and Ann G. Smolen Reviews: Only here can one find such an excellent updated and integrated theory of attachment, separation, individuation, and self psychology. The Mother and Her Child treats the reader to the latest findings from infant research with the welcome addition of observational data, analyses of videotaped sessions with mothers and their infants and with analysts with their child analysands. All of this is accomplished with an appreciation of the dance between the participants. The developmental tasks of the nurturer as well as those of the child are appreciated. Excellent contributions on loss, trauma, and their aftereffects expand our understanding of attachment and resilience. The seasoned clinician as well as the novice will find much to explore in this very thoughtful and comprehensive integration of the latest advances in psychoanalytic research, theory, and technique.— — Ruth S. Fischer, MD, Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia Dr. Akhtar and his colleagues are to be congratulated for producing a volume about mothers and their infants and children which can serve as a basic text in child development. The authors very clearly and carefully communicate the importance of integrating ideas from multiple perspectives. It is an unusually useful volume for all mental health professionals.— — Leon Hoffman M.D., New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, coauthor of the Manual of Regulation-Focused Psychotherapy for Children (RFP-C) with Externalizing Behaviors Table of Contents: Acknowledgments Chapter 1: What Does a Mother Do?: An Overview Salman Akhtar, M.D. Chapter 2: A Secure Connection: The Tethering of Attachment and Good-enough Maternal Care April E. Fallon, Ph.D., and Virginia M. Brabender, Ph.D. Chapter 3: Secure Connections, the Extended Family System, and the Socio-Cultural Construction of Attachment Theory Christine Kieffer, Ph.D. Chapter 4: Attachment and Separation-Individuation: Two Ways of Looking at the Mother/Infant Relationship Anni Bergman, Ph.D., Inga Blom,Ph.D., Daniela Polyak, B.A. Chapter 5 Mother-Infant Attachment: The Demystification of an Enigma Newell Fischer, M.D. Chapter 6: Searching for a Lost Mother: A Parent-Child Treatment Alexandra Harrison, M.D. Chapter 7: The Use of Video in Infant Research and Clinical Practice: A Historical Perspective Ann Smolen, Ph.D. Chapter 8: Childhood Losses, Adult Memories Anna Ornstein, M.D. Chapter 9: When Mother Isn’t There: Finding Alternate Pathways to Development. Jennifer Bonovitz, Ph.D. Chapter 10: Before Self and Object Constancy: A Concluding Commentary M. Hossein Etezady, M.D. References Index About the Editor and Contributors About the Editor: Salman Akhtar, MD, is professor of psychiatry at Jefferson Medical College and training and supervising analyst at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. |