In this book, Peter Blake articulates his clinical practice of child and adolescent psychotherapy. A clear conceptual framework and historical context is provided for the work. The book is then structured to follow the therapeutic process, from assessment (referral and initial interview, individual assessment, developmental considerations, assessment for therapy, working with parents) to therapy (physical and mental settings, interpretation, the role and challenges of play, transference and countertransference, termination). Drawing on the Winnicottian tradition, in which fun and humour have a place in child and adolescent work, Blake demonstrates how a therapist can be playful and less directly interpretative. How psychodynamic thinking can be applied in an effective yet time-limited manner is also demonstrated. The text is enlivened by many case studies and clinical anecdotes. Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy is a practical book. It is also a personal book: 'My aim is not to suggest how child psychotherapy should be practised – this would be absurd. In this field no one has all the answers. You only have to see children and adolescents for a short time to realise how difficult it is to know what is really going on. Rather, by describing the way I work, readers will hear what I have done, what has worked and not worked for me over 36 years.' For therapists who are new to child and adolescent psychotherapy, and who wish to take a psychodynamic approach, the book will provide a valuable introduction. For professionals who refer to or work with child and adolescent therapists, the book will provide insight into the field, dissipating much of the mystique and misunderstanding that surrounds this work. Experienced child and adolescent therapists will find of interest how Blake integrates a Kleinian, Object-Relations approach with more Interpersonal (now, Relational) thinking. Contents: Acknowledgments Prologue PART 1 FOUNDATIONS Chapter 1 The Analytic Legacy Chapter 2 Conceptual Framework Chapter 3 Psychoanalytic Observation PART 2 ASSESSMENT Part Introduction Chapter 4 Referral and Initial Interview Chapter 5 Individual Assessment Chapter 6 Developmental Considerations Chapter 7 Assessment for Therapy Chapter 8 Working with Parents PART 3 THERAPY Part Introduction Chapter 9 The Setting, Physical and Mental, and Limits Chapter 10 Interpretation Chapter 11 The Role of Play Chapter 12 The Challenges of Play Chapter 13 Transference and Counter Transference Chapter 14 Interpretation, Play, and Transference and Counter Transference in Practice: Paul's Story Chapter 15 Adolescents Chapter 16 Endings Epilogue Bibliography Index About the Author: Peter Blake is a Clinical Psychologist and a Tavistock-trained child psychotherapist. He has 36 years' experience in working in the area of child and family mental health, both in England and Australia. He is currently Director of ICAPP (Institute of Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy), a professional body that offers training in child and adolescent psychotherapy in Sydney. Peter is also in private practice in Sydney. |