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This literature review adopted a systematic approach to explore and review all of the existing journal literature on parent work in child psychotherapy; studies included span a range of approaches, settings and contexts for this work. Prevalent themes are identified and three main types of journal articles are classified, including an evaluation of the strengths and limitations of their validity as research and/or clinical relevance. Accounts of this work representing diverse parental experiences and exploring direct parental perspectives and opinions of this are identified as a significant gap in the literature. The experiences of parents facing severe and enduring mental health challenges in particular are found to be under-represented, and the case is made for more research in this area. The review was conducted to inform a research project undertaken by the author within their clinical training placement, which became the first of the new professional Doctorates completed at Human Development Scotland; some reflections are included about the challenge of undertaking a literature review of such broad scope while both child psychotherapy trainee and novice trainee researcher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commentary discusses Shirley Hoxter's paper on puberty experiences, highlighting the changes in adolescent development over the years. It addresses the impact of social media, early puberty, and changing attitudes towards sexuality and dating among teenagers. The paper emphasizes the importance of understanding the intergenerational tensions and conflicts that arise during puberty, as well as the role of therapists in helping adolescents navigate these challenges. The commentary also delves into case studies presented by Hoxter, showcasing the complexities of adolescent psychotherapy and the need for therapists to address issues related to sexuality, identity, and maturation. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Sticking and falling: re-enactments of loss in childhood" explores the experiences of an eight-year-old White-British girl named Charlotte in psychodynamic therapy sessions. Themes of containment deprivation and re-enactments of loss are observed, following parental separation. The trainee therapist notes Charlotte's anxiety and disruptive behavior, possibly linked to her parents' split. Through psychodynamic theories, the therapist navigates Charlotte's expressions of loss, disintegration, and need for containment, offering insights into her emotional struggles and family dynamics. The article highlights the therapist's journey in understanding and containing Charlotte's projections and anxieties, emphasizing the importance of providing a safe space for her feelings. [Extracted from the article]

The article responds to Nataliya Zueva's work on the role of fathers in modern Western societies, focusing on heterosexual parental couples. Zueva discusses how the decline of traditional family structures has impacted the role of fathers, leading to diverse interpretations. The author questions Zueva's use of the term "heteronormative" and explores the complexities of defining the father's role in contemporary object-relations literature. The article highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the visibility and significance of fathers in psychoanalytic discussions, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of diverse family dynamics. [Extracted from the article]

Born out of the traditional model of psychoanalysis for adults, child psychoanalytic psychotherapists initially focused primarily on their young patients’ inner world. Cultural, economic, and theoretical changes have, however, led child psychotherapists to re-evaluate the importance of the environment, and particularly the role of parents, in the lives of children and young people. In contemporary clinical practice, child psychotherapists often include work with parents when addressing mental health difficulties in children and adolescents. However, no clear theoretical and clinical framework exists for working with parents in psychoanalytic child psychotherapy. This paper provides an overview of the various ways child psychoanalytic psychotherapists engage with parents, as well as a discussion of the commonalities and divergences in different psychoanalytic approaches to parent work. The aim of the paper is to synthesise current literature and to clarify this area of work. This is a narrative review of the literature on the types of engagement and models of work with parents of children and adolescents currently offered by child psychoanalytic psychotherapists. The literature reflects the absence of one accepted formulation and practice in parent work. Despite the growing literature, the lack of cross-referencing and shared language using existing and new psychoanalytic ideas perpetuates the field’s fragmentation. In the current cultural and economic context, where other modalities thrive on evidence-based data, the survival of child psychoanalytic psychotherapy in public mental health provision is uncertain. An integrated formulation is needed both to help therapists in their work with parents and allow the evaluation of work with families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the author further explores and theorises themes from a recent autoethnographical essay ‘Dangerous journey: memories of containment in Cuba’ in which he detailed the immediate demanding period that followed the end of his own analysis – an event which occurred some time after the completion of his formal training. To study this very particular time-period in professional life, he draws on literature on endings in child psychotherapy and the progression of personal training analyses in the psychoanalytic professions, while also referencing discussions held with a range of child psychotherapy colleagues. The reader of this paper is invited to enquire why there are no child psychotherapy publications and a near-void in wider psychoanalytic publications on this important caesura, coupled with a lack of descriptions of the challenges of working in current NHS systems. The author also draws on his experiences to provide a brief, general commentary on such challenges. He hopes that the paper may encourage further writing in the profession on the place of personal analyses within (and often for a time after) the training – especially the possible meanings when ending them – and more broadly of their enduring place in the lives of child psychotherapists post-terminus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the concept of countertransference in child psychotherapy, emphasizing the importance of the therapist embracing the patient's emotions without imposing predetermined paths. The author provides clinical examples, including therapy sessions with a six-year-old girl and a 17-year-old patient, to illustrate the complexities of countertransference. The text also discusses the therapist's experiences working with young patients, including feelings of hatred and challenges in dealing with destructive anger. The therapist explores the concept of a "triangular space" in therapy, where the child can observe and understand the relationship between their parents. The article highlights the progress made in therapy through case examples, emphasizing the significance of patience, countertransference, and creating a space for the child's emotions to be processed and understood. [Extracted from the article]

Regression in the service of the ego is a unique phenomenon that often occurs within therapeutic settings. In the current study1, I show how it emerges within child therapy and how bibliotherapy manages to give it presence and thus to process it. The methodology that guided this study was based on a critical reading of psychoanalysis and bibliotherapy theories. In addition, the methodology is based on a therapeutic vignette aimed at demonstrating the qualities of bibliotherapy with children. I claim that bibliotherapy, based as it is primarily on the use of reading and writing processes, offers additional ways of processing and thinking about this phenomenon. The study provides an innovative contribution that is related to the interdisciplinary approach to therapy. There are important links between the two major disciplines examined in this study, psychoanalysis and bibliotherapy. Their intertwining generates interrelations and mutual inspiration. Moreover, this study adds to the theoretical and practical foundation of bibliotherapy and further establishes the understanding regarding the power of reading and writing processes to "relate the soul" within the analytical process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a response to an article by Elizabeth Edginton titled "Country house poetry of the English Civil War: a metaphorical exploration of contemporary debates in UK child and adolescent psychoanalytic psychotherapy research and an update on TIGA-CUB." The author, Ruth Schmidt Neven, addresses Edginton's comments and asserts that the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) needs to be more supportive of research if they want randomized controlled trial (RCT) methodology to be more appropriate to their way of working. Schmidt Neven also discusses the need for child psychotherapy to reassess its focus and develop innovative theory and research. She argues that the RCT method lacks congruence with the nature of child psychotherapy and suggests using a qualitative conceptual orientation instead. Schmidt Neven criticizes Edginton's feasibility study for not considering the context of the problem and emphasizes the importance of a phenomenological and developmental perspective in research. She questions the applicability of a rigid evidence-based practice approach in the psychotherapeutic field and suggests that child psychotherapists become practitioner researchers within their workplace. The document concludes by mentioning that Schmidt Neven's surname is consistently misspelled in the paper. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: to examine whether an underlying general psychopathology factor (p factor) existed in children and adolescents attending psychodynamic psychotherapy and whether this general psychopathology factor was associated with family functioning and engagement with psychotherapy. Method: Participants were 1976 children and adolescents, and their families, who sought psychodynamic psychotherapy from a community-based clinic in Southern Brazil. The Child Behavior Checklist and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales for assessing symptoms and family functioning were used, with treatment engagement data available through linked records. Confirmatory factor analytic methods examined psychopathology and regression models were constructed to examine associations. Results: A general psychopathology factor and specific internalizing and externalizing factors were identified. Higher general psychopathology scores at assessment were associated with an increased likelihood of dropout and poorer attendance compared to completing treatment. Father's educational level, living with both parents, lack of family adaptability and cohesion, and maltreatment experience were related to increased p factor severity. Conclusion: General psychopathology severity seems to contribute to child and adolescent psychotherapy outcomes, increasing the risk of non-adherence and dropout. Family difficulties and traumatic experiences may increase p factor severity. Identifying general psychopathology routinely can be crucial for developing effective treatment plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Psychodynamic child psychotherapy is an evidence-based approach for a range of child mental health difficulties and needs to constantly adapt to meet the needs of children. This study is the first to investigate whether the use of mentalization-based interventions (i.e., a focus on promoting attention control, emotion regulation, and explicit mentalization) predicted a good therapeutic outcome in online psychodynamic child therapy sessions conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The sample included 51 Turkish children (Mage = 7.43, 49% girls) with mixed emotional and behavioral problems. Independent raters coded 203 sessions from different phases in each child's treatment using the Mentalization-Based Treatment for Children Adherence Scale (MBT-CAS). Results: Multilevel modeling analyses showed children with higher emotional lability benefited more from attention control interventions compared to those with lower emotional lability. Discussion: Interventions that focus on developing the basic building blocks of mentalizing may be effective components of therapeutic action for online delivery of psychodynamic child psychotherapy, especially for children with greater emotional lability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the importance of supervision in psychoanalytic psychotherapy and highlights its historical omission in the field. It recommends the book "Supervision in a changing world" as a resource for clinicians and professionals interested in deepening their skills through supervision. The article emphasizes the role of relationships in the development of psychotherapists and the unique nature of each therapeutic and supervisory relationship. The book explores various aspects of the supervision task and relationship, including counter-transference, learning from experience, and the balance between clinical and research supervision. The article also discusses the challenges of training within an NHS CAMHS team and the need to balance psychoanalytic requirements with crisis work and generic CAMHS work. Additionally, the article discusses chapters from a book on supervision in child psychotherapy, focusing on the role of writing in supervision, different aspects of supervision, and the challenges of supervising and teaching in different cultural and linguistic contexts. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and embracing the experiences of therapists and clients, as well as maintaining hope in the therapeutic process. [Extracted from the article]

Our separateness from the other is the 'basic agony', the 'original heartbreak' of the human condition, according to Frances Tustin's thinking. The ways we deal with this heartbreak form the foundation through which relationships, self-experience and wellbeing are built and developed. The following paper describes a child's journey, from omnipotent encapsulation, through the extremes of heartbreak – the child's, as well as his parents' and the therapist's – to liveliness and hope. Tustin teaches us the meaning and experience of encapsulation, the delicate balance between 'hard' and 'soft' needed in the therapeutic stance, the extremes of despair, hurt, cruelty and heartbreak that are met with along the way, as well as the possibility of hope even in dire situations. Holding on, survival and faith, as well as hope-against-hope, which is the resistance to despair in situations of hopelessness, are needed in order for this broken heart to be somewhat mended and allowed to flourish and to grow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The developmental age is often characterized by problems of somatization of psychological problems and conflicts: Anorexia, enuresis, encopresis and persistent constipation. The Drawn-Story (DS) technique presented in this article was developed to enhance and support the narrative-dialogic relationship in the psychodiagnostic and psychotherapeutic context – initially primarily for work with children of developmental age, but later also for other patient groups. It is a projective drawing technique that was developed by Giancarlo Trombini in the 1970s based on his training in Gestalt psychology and psychoanalysis at the University of Bologna and has since been further developed by him, Elena Trombini and their colleagues and also used in other fields of application. This article uses an early case history of DS to explore central aspects of this technique in greater depth. It also explores the question of whether the Concluding Therapeutic Turn observed in therapies with adults can also be observed in developmental age therapy according to the criterion of reconciliation of time perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a high-prevalence mental disorder among children and adolescents. The aim of this study is to compare and rank the effectiveness of several psychotherapies for SAD among children and adolescents. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were utilized by searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. We used network meta-analysis in the Bayesian framework to analyze the data. This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42023476829. In total, 30 RCTs with 1547 individuals were included, and nine psychotherapies with three control conditions were compared and ranked in this study. The findings revealed that internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (surface under the cumulative ranking curve [SUCRA: 71.2 %]), group cognitive behavioural therapy (SUCRA: 68.4 %), and individual cognitive behavioural therapy (SUCRA: 66.0 %) significantly reduced social anxiety symptoms; internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy also significantly decreased depression symptoms in these patients (SUCRA: 92.2 %). In addition, group cognitive behavioural therapy can enhance functioning in these patients (SUCRA: 89.6 %). These results suggest that internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy is the optimal type of psychotherapy for reducing social anxiety and depression symptoms in children and adolescents with SAD, internet-delivered parent-child interaction therapy and cognitive bias modification of interpretation have relatively poor treatment effects on social anxiety symptoms in children than other psychological interventions, and group cognitive behavioural therapy has better benefits in enhancing the functioning among children and adolescents with SAD. Further studies are needed to ascertain these results due to the limited number of included studies. • Network meta-analysis examines interventions for social anxiety disorder. • Internet-delivered CBT is an optimal psychotherapy for social anxiety disorder. • Group CBT has better benefits in enhancing the functioning. • Findings can provide recommendations for health care professionals and patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The British Journal of Psychotherapy recently held its 40th birthday conference, which focused on the role of a psychotherapy journal in knowledge exchange and debate. Keynote speakers discussed topics such as the dangers of avoiding disruptive thought in psychoanalysis and the importance of ethics in psychotherapy. Former editors highlighted significant papers from their time, covering subjects like free will, postmodern therapy culture, and the impact of COVID-19 on clinical practice. The conference also included live clinical commentaries and discussions on the future of psychotherapy. Additionally, the text pays tribute to two individuals, Camila Batmanghelidjh and Derek Draper, who made significant contributions in their respective fields. Camila Batmanghelidjh founded Kids Company, an organization that supported traumatized children who had experienced abuse and bereavement. Derek Draper, a former political adviser, transitioned to the field of mental health and became a psychologist and psychotherapist. Both individuals will be remembered for their compassion and dedication to helping others. [Extracted from the article]

This News begin by briefly describing the clinical parent-infant psychotherapy treatments and the first two follow-ups with seven families - which have already been published -before expanding on the third and final follow-up, when the children were of school-age. The families had been referred to a specialist Parent-Infant Service for a variety of difficulties related to parental mental instability, immigration, loss, addiction and deep anxieties regarding the imminent birth, or the actual first few months of life of their baby. The third follow-ups took place in different settings several years later and not necessarily where the families had originally been seen. These meetings demonstrate the value of both early interventions - where psychoanalytic thinking combined with mindfulness supported families in navigating through new stages of their life - and of continuity of contact through the years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective Methods Results Discussion Trial Registration To systematically review and evaluate the efficacy of eating disorder focused family therapy (FT‐ED) in comparison to all other forms of psychotherapy for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa. A secondary aim is to assess the relative efficacy of different variations of FT‐ED (e.g., shorter vs. longer dose, parent‐focused).A search with relevant terms was systematically conducted on four databases. Twenty‐three publications across 18 randomized controlled trials met inclusion criteria. Outcomes of interest included variables related to weight, eating psychopathology, and remission status. Study quality was assessed, and data were extracted by two independent researchers.Adolescents receiving FT‐ED gained significantly more weight by the end of treatment in comparison to those receiving individual psychotherapy. FT‐ED that was delivered just to parents or to parents and child separately offered preferable weight outcomes and rates of recovery at the end of treatment in comparison to conjoint FT‐ED. No other outcomes tested in the meta‐analysis were statistically significant at the end of treatment or follow‐up.Currently available data suggest the use of FT‐ED in its conjoint or separated/parent focused format is the best outpatient treatment option for adolescents with anorexia nervosa when immediate weight gain is paramount. The variability of outcome measurement, including the tools used and timepoints chosen, limit comparison among no more than a handful of studies. The field would benefit from the standardization of measurement and reporting guidelines for future clinical trials.PROSPERO number: CRD42023396263. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text discusses enhanced psychotherapy, which seeks to improve traditional psychotherapy by incorporating innovative treatment approaches. The goal is to enhance treatment effectiveness and sustainability, particularly for difficult-to-treat symptoms and patients who may not benefit as much from traditional methods. This approach includes personalized treatment strategies within the framework of precision mental health care and precision medicine. Various approaches, such as digital technology and virtual reality, are used to tailor interventions to individual needs and improve treatment outcomes. The text also highlights the importance of further research and development in certain areas to enhance the effectiveness of psychotherapy. It introduces the concept of One Health, which considers the interconnectedness of human health with animals and the environment, as a holistic approach to health. The text explores innovative trial designs, such as adaptive platform trials and modular therapy, that aim to tailor interventions and improve treatment outcomes. The German Centre for Mental Health (DZPG) is introduced as an initiative that aims to advance psychotherapy research and implementation, with a focus on patient involvement and data-driven approaches. Overall, the text presents a positive outlook for the future of mental health treatment. [Extracted from the article]

This article presents a frequent dilemma of treatment-seeking mothers suffering from complex posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that is related to exposure to maltreatment and other forms of interpersonal violence. Namely, that complex PTSD symptoms, including dissociative states in mothers that are triggered by normative child emotion dysregulation, aggression, and distress during early childhood, hinder the development of a productive psychotherapeutic process in more traditional psychodynamic psychotherapies for mothers and children. The article thus presents clinician-assisted videofeedback exposure (CAVE) that characterizes a recently manualized brief psychotherapy for this population, called CAVE-approach therapy (CAVEAT). CAVEAT can be used on its own or to preface a deeper process using child-parent psychotherapy or other non-videofeedback-enhanced psychodynamic models. A clinical illustration is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie is the property of Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article explores the current global climate of change and uncertainty, highlighting events such as wars, terrorist attacks, pandemics, and environmental disasters. It also discusses the increase in antidepressant prescriptions in England. The clinical material presented focuses on a middle-aged man named S., who has experienced significant life changes and struggles with feelings of isolation and difficulty in connecting with others. The article emphasizes the importance of striving for inner peace and neutralizing destructive forces, both externally and internally. From a psychodynamic perspective, the text analyzes S.'s experiences of loss, isolation, and detachment, revealing a disorganized attachment style likely influenced by his distant father and mother lacking intimacy. The text also explores S.'s unresolved traumatic stress and elements of psychotic thinking. The therapist notes S.'s struggle with close relationships and his tendency to idealize and denigrate human neediness. However, the text suggests that there is hope for recovery and the possibility of making sense of and mourning loss. It discusses a therapy session with S., who is struggling with unresolved traumatic attachment distress from childhood. S. has difficulty forming intimate relationships and lacks a sense of self. The therapist explores S.'s narratives and experiences, noting his avoidance of emotional connection and his tendency to use magical thinking and incoherent narratives as defenses. The therapist also reflects on the importance of attachment theory in understanding S.'s experiences and the potential for psychodynamic work to make a positive difference. Overall, the text provides insights into the challenges faced by individuals with unresolved attachment [Extracted from the article]

This book review discusses "Transforming Infantile Trauma in Analytic Work with Children and Adults: The Clinical Writings of Alessandra Cavalli," a collection of papers by Alessandra Cavalli, a Jungian-trained analyst. The book explores Cavalli's work with severely traumatized children and adults, focusing on the impact of early infantile trauma on the developing self. The review highlights Cavalli's dedication to establishing meaningful emotional connections with her patients and her persistence in trying to communicate with highly defended children. It also mentions Cavalli's exploration of intergenerational trauma and her consultancy work with a staff team at a home for street children in Mexico. The reviewer recommends the book to child and adult psychotherapists. [Extracted from the article]

Regression in the service of the ego is a unique phenomenon that often occurs within therapeutic settings. In the current study1, I show how it emerges within child therapy and how bibliotherapy manages to give it presence and thus to process it. The methodology that guided this study was based on a critical reading of psychoanalysis and bibliotherapy theories. In addition, the methodology is based on a therapeutic vignette aimed at demonstrating the qualities of bibliotherapy with children. I claim that bibliotherapy, based as it is primarily on the use of reading and writing processes, offers additional ways of processing and thinking about this phenomenon. The study provides an innovative contribution that is related to the interdisciplinary approach to therapy. There are important links between the two major disciplines examined in this study, psychoanalysis and bibliotherapy. Their intertwining generates interrelations and mutual inspiration. Moreover, this study adds to the theoretical and practical foundation of bibliotherapy and further establishes the understanding regarding the power of reading and writing processes to “relate the soul” within the analytical process.

Supportive psychotherapy occurs in almost every doctor-patient encounter and is the psychotherapeutic treatment provided to the vast majority of patients who are seen by residents and fellows in psychiatric clinics and mental health centers, yet very few scholarly articles are written that help explain its principles or how it works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latinos constitute the largest minority in the United States. While the term could refer to all individuals born or whose families come from countries in which languages derived from Latin are predominant, the term has come to primarily refer to those who were born or come from families born in countries in the Western Hemisphere where Spanish is the predominant language. Latinos face discrimination in the health-care system of the United States, even if born in this country, which is negatively affecting the mental health of both adults and children. There is an ever-increasing influx of families and children in the United States coming from countries in Latin America where they have experienced various forms of violence as well as violations of human rights and have arrived an undocumented status. As a result, many Latino families fear the potential detainment and deportation of family members, including the parents of children born in the United States, creating a source of anxiety and stress for the children. In addition to this, the process of forcibly having to abandon their country of origin within the context of what has been referred to as force migration is, in and of itself, a potentially traumatic event. Providers of psychotherapy for Latino children need to become more aware of these circumstances and take them into account during the treatment of these children in order to be more effective in their interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinicians working with children and adolescents must remain dynamic ("zestful, energetic, open to constant change") while exploring the psychodynamics inherent within the patient-clinician dyad. Cultural climates and trends are constantly changing, and as communications improve in the digital era, the enormity of information makes it difficult to stay up to date. The author shares some opinions and observations he has learnt in his practice of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy with children and teenagers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychotherapy of different types is recognized across the globe as an essential component of child and adolescent mental health services. At the same time, there are barriers and challenges in obtaining access to this modality that are as widespread as its acceptance. This article reviews barriers to accessing child and adolescent psychotherapy in high-income countries (HIC) as well as low/middle-income countries (LMIC). It also briefly reviews approaches to improve access using different interventions and modalities. We also report on our experience using one particular intervention, case management within pediatric collaborative care, as a promising approach for improving access in underserved populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes as its premise the idea that transferential phenomena emerge out of the endless interactions between the wider social context, including myriad social injustices, and the inter and intra psychic events psychoanalytic therapists are more familiar with thinking about. Freud's was a neuro-psycho-social model of development, with the interrelationship between internal life and social practices carefully mapped in 'Totem and Taboo' (1913) and 'Civilisation and Its Discontents' (S. Freud, 1930). However, what Freud left undone, and is still only nascent in its development, is the work of mapping how this interaction between internal and external, between psycho and social, manifests in the consulting room. Focusing on race, as one aspect of identity that powerfully impacts transferential phenomena, the paper presents accounts of clinical events, one disguised, one fictionalised, to explore the meaning of the author's own Whiteness in this context. Using a Kleinian and post-Kleinian understanding of very early Oedipal struggles, 'Whiteness' is formulated as an anti-developmental merger with the ideal breast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explored significant advancements in integrative child psychotherapy in the UK, aiming to establish a common core and unified theory. Informed by infant-parent observations, attachment theory, neuroscience, and socio-cognitive developmental psychology research, the findings integrated clinical approaches from a developmental and family systems perspective. The objective was to provide a framework based on common factors and a unified psychogenesis theory, emphasising a therapeutic action model and understanding child development. The escalating prevalence and severity of mental health issues among children and young people (CYP) are highlighted, with factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, educational disruptions, increased digital reliance, and the current cost of living crisis contributing to the surge. The impact of these changes necessitates a holistic approach to mental health care, specifically by specialists in integrative child psychotherapy. Current data underestimates CYP mental health needs due to the absence of a national approach to data collection and analysis. Moreover, there is a lack of consensus on the assessment and case formulation in CYP mental health treatment. The diversity in practitioners' approaches, training, and understanding of child development, evidence-based practices, and CYP mental health support is noted. Critiquing the limitations of evidence-based practices, the paper argues for a systematic assessment and case formulation framework. It advocates for an evidence base that acknowledges the individuality of CYP, emphasising psychotherapy's dynamic, relational foundation. The proposed framework seeks to inform training and practice requirements, challenging the conventional mechanistic understanding of mental health treatment and promoting a more integrative and client-centred approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Confidentiality is a crucial ethical principle in therapy, particularly for children and adolescents, yet their perception of it remains understudied. We aimed to explore minors' perspectives and attributions on confidentiality in psychological and medical treatment. Methods: We interviewed 11 pediatric patients aged 7 to 15 and used reflexive thematic analysis to analyze their responses. Results: Four main themes were extracted from the data: (1) confidentiality and uncertainty regarding what information will be shared with clinicians and parents; (2) consequences of breaching confidentiality, encompassing breaches of confidentiality in the past and their negative effects on interactions with parents and health professionals; (3) exceptions to confidentiality, including understanding the limits of confidentiality; and (4) autonomy and self-determination, reflecting the desire for involvement in medical decisions. Conclusions: Explanations about confidentiality rules and limits, especially with younger children, are crucial. This is particularly important because it is fundamental to promote children's development and self-determination through increasing autonomy, as well as to provide a sense of security and respect through transparent rules. A single educational session on confidentiality at the outset of therapy is insufficient; ongoing conversations are needed to reinforce understanding and promote autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie is the property of Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Although important research on remote psychotherapies was conducted for many years, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the spread of remote therapies. However, studies focusing on children and the family population are still quite new. Exploration of therapists' views and experiences of using online psychotherapy interventions is of importance. In addition to these, confusion caused by referring to remote therapies with different names and using them for different purposes and forms makes it difficult to know which evidence is available for tools and forms. Therefore, this study aims to investigate psychotherapists' views and experiences of video conferencing psychotherapy (VCP) for children using a qualitative description method. In line with this purpose, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with seven female specialists who conducted VCP with children in different cities in Turkey. Data collected from the interviews were analyzed using an inductive content analysis approach. Analysis results indicated two themes and ten sub-themes that described benefits, new opportunities as well as limitations and difficulties of VCP provided to children. Results showed that VCP enhanced accessibility for both therapists and children and their families, enabled comfort and flexibility, and was economic. Besides, such psychotherapy was found to increase fathers' participation in psychotherapy. On the other hand, difficulties are experienced in therapeutic relationships in the VCP process; the child's characteristics affected the applicability of the psychotherapy; maintaining focus became difficult; lack of materials and toys affected psychotherapy applications; children's connecting to psychotherapy from home caused privacy issues; and technological problems affected communication and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

»You're not really dead, are you?« The move from pretending to play, to pretend play. The development of symbolic capacity in a child that suffered early deprivation and traumatisation This article deals with the consequences of early childhood traumatisation on the development of a boy, the development of his symbolic capacity in the course of child psychotherapy in the ambulant clinic »die Boje« in Vienna, and the challenges facing the therapeutic technique with this deprived and traumatised child. In the first part of the paper, I address theoretical concepts concerning the early mother-child dyad, early traumatisation, and the effects of these on the development of symbolic functioning. I then link these theories with the clinical case material. In the second part, the theoretical considerations of Anne Alvarez, who in her work with disturbed children distinguishes between three levels of psychological states which need differing technical approaches, are examined in terms of their relevance to my clinical material: the three-phase treatment of the boy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a devastating disease that remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Children are particularly vulnerable due to their difficulty expressing symptoms and articulating their emotional experiences. The psychological barriers accompanying a cancer diagnosis can affect a child's adherence to treatment, which is essential for recovery. However, managing these barriers can be challenging for psychologists and psychotherapists. This study proposes a tool to aid psychologists and psychotherapists in observing and measuring treatment adherence in children's oncology. Unlike traditional observation methods, this tool uses games to engage children more effectively. The GOO platform captures data from game partners to identify hidden and recurring behaviors that may impact treatment adherence. This information helps psychologists and psychotherapists develop more efficient and effective interventions. The GOO platform was tested by ten psychotherapy professionals working with children undergoing oncological treatment, and the results were promising. The platform allowed the researchers to identify emotional fragilities in children using digital games as a plat- form for data analysis. This knowledge can be used to provide more personalized and effective care for these patients. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of using technology to improve the care of children with cancer. By engaging children with games and using digital tools to capture their emotional responses, psychologists and psychotherapists can gain valuable insights into these patients' challenges and develop better ways to support them. This paper addresses ten professionals in psychotherapy with children in oncological treatment who tested the platform's usability. Thus, based on this technological acceptance research, it is possible to identify the emotional fragilities of children using the digital game as a platform for data analysis and thus act more efficiently in caring for the emotions of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Motivation and a therapeutic alliance are crucial for successful therapy. It is assumed that dogs can increase motivation and help support therapeutic relationships. This is one of the reasons for including dogs in psychotherapy. While the positive effects of psychotherapy with dogs have been documented over the past years, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of animal-assisted psychotherapy. This study therefore aims to investigate whether and how the presence of a dog affects motivation and the therapeutic alliance in child and adolescent psychotherapy. Methods: The study is a randomized controlled trial assessing motivation and the therapeutic alliance during the first five sessions of psychotherapy attended by children and adolescents with different psychiatric disorders. We will recruit 150 children and adolescents and randomly assign them to one of three conditions: (a) a dog is present but not integrated in the therapeutic narrative, (b) a dog is actively integrated in the therapeutic narrative, and (c) no dog is present. The children's and adolescents' evaluations of the therapeutic alliance and of their motivation will be assessed as the primary outcomes using standardized questionnaires before and after the first five therapy sessions as well as at follow-up. Further outcomes include the therapists' evaluations of the therapeutic alliance and their motivation, treatment adherence of the children and adolescents, and treatment satisfaction of the children and adolescents, their parents, and of the therapists. Interventions are conducted by experienced therapists who regularly work with their dogs. Outcomes will be analyzed using general linear models, with the treatment group as a fixed factor and the baseline values as covariates. Discussion: This study provides information on the possible motivation and alliance-enhancing effects of integrating a dog into child and adolescent psychotherapy. This is relevant for practice, as these two components are strong predictors of therapy outcome. Moreover, the study will contribute to a better understanding of how a dog should be incorporated into psychotherapeutic settings. This can lead to a more purposeful inclusion of dogs in psychotherapy for children and adolescents. Trial registration: The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05384808, on 20 May 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Editorial Board of the Equinoccio magazine proposes the theme "Connections: self-other, world" for its next volume. The objective is to reflect on the categories of self and otherness, as well as the discourses that shape social bonds. The magazine has received many contributions on this topic and hopes that readers will enjoy the diverse productions included in this issue. The articles address topics such as domination, discourses in psychoanalytic clinics, sexuality in old age, group psychotherapy with children, interdisciplinary clinics with children, and autism. It also includes a conversation with prominent professionals in relational psychoanalysis. The magazine hopes that this reading will promote new reflections and interest in disseminating psychoanalytic thought. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: The therapeutic alliance (TA) has been shown to be a predictor of psychotherapy treatment success. In the case of psychotherapy with children, there is a dearth of information on TA's role. The aims of the paper are: (1) To estimate the therapist effects on children TA; (2) to investigate if therapists' TA predicts children's TA; (3) to analyze if children's age and sex predict children's TA; (4) to evaluate if the therapist's characteristics predict children's TA. Methods: The sample consisted of 77 children undergoing psychotherapy in Argentina, and the therapists (N = 29) providing services to those children. The assessment tools utilized for the study included the Therapy Alliance Scale for Children and the Personal Style of the Therapist Questionnaire (PST‐Q). Results: Findings indicated that 2% of the children's TA was explained by the therapists (ICC = 0.02), while 17% of the therapists' TA was explained by the therapists (ICC = 0.17). Therapists' TA predicted children's TA. Children's age and sex did not have an effect on their own TA. Moreover, therapists with more experience achieved higher scores of children's TA. Finally, the Operative dimension of the PST had a negative effect on children's TA (i.e., therapists who prefer more spontaneous interventions over structured ones may experience higher levels of therapeutic alliance with child patients). Conclusion: We found a positive effect of the therapist's TA on children's TA, especially in the preference for using more spontaneous intervention techniques. We discuss the implications of the findings on the training of psychotherapists who provide services to children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children can lead to long-lasting symptoms and access to evidence-based evaluation and treatment is crucial for its prevention. In Iceland, the law guarantees public access to the highest quality healthcare services. To date, no study has evaluated the services available for children with OCD within the national healthcare system (NMHS). This qualitative study explored the experiences of parents navigating the Icelandic NMHS for their children with OCD. Seven parents who had sought services within the NMHS for their children diagnosed with OCD at private clinics were interviewed using a semi-structured interview. The responses were analyzed using thematic framework analysis. Nineteen themes were identified, including three overarching themes and eight overarching sub-themes, and eight sub-themes within them. A prevalent theme was the giving up on the national mental healthcare system due to parents' experiences of accessing mental healthcare for their children being challenging. Other issues faced by parents included a lack of knowledge on where to seek help, inadequate evaluation of the issue, and the lack of access to psychotherapy for their children. The healthcare workers' responses and recommendations also resulted in parents seeking treatment at private clinics. These findings underscore the need for clearer pathways for seeking help, improved access to trained healthcare workers, and a more centralized evaluation process. These insights can potentially guide future research and policy decisions to better support families dealing with childhood OCD in Iceland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fred Pine was a brilliant theoretician, an extraordinarily gifted clinician, an inspiring teacher, and a beautiful writer. He was also a master synthesizer who could hold multiple possibilities, multiple phenomena, multiple observations, and multiple theories in mind, bringing them together in an elegant and rich whole. This paper focuses on Fred Pine's vision of a truly developmental and "radically open-minded" psychoanalysis, as it was described in a series of theoretical and clinical papers compiled in the volume Developmental Theory and Clinical Process (1985). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its nature, art psychotherapy can offer adopted children the capacity and opportunity to face problems that might occur at a young age. This paper examines what adoption means to children and how it impacts their mental, social, and emotional well-being. It goes on to provide an insight into how art psychotherapy can address emotional conflict, foster coping mechanisms, reduce anxiety, improve problems solving skills, and integrate traumatic experiences in ways that are not feasible through verbal therapy. A series of guidelines and activities are proposed in order to stimulate the creative therapeutic process. The conclusion is that art psychotherapy, together with the safety of a stable home and caring family, can allow adopted children to face past problems and live a more balanced life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed based on socio-communicative difficulties, which are believed to result from deficits in mentalizing, mainly evidenced by alterations in recognizing and responding to the mental states of others. In recent years, efforts have been made to develop mentalization-based treatment (MBT) models for this population. These models focus on enhancing individuals’ ability to understand and reflect on their own mental states, as well as those of others. However, MBT approaches for people with ASD are limited by their existing theoretical background, which lacks a strong foundation grounded in neuroscience-based evidence properly integrated with attachment, and mentalizing. These are crucial aspects for understanding psychological processes in autism, and as such, they play a pivotal role in shaping the development of tailored and effective therapeutic strategies for this specific population. In this paper we review evidence related to the neurobiological, interpersonal, and psychological dimensions of autism and their implications for mentalizing processes. We also review previous mentalization-based frameworks on the psychosis continuum to provide a comprehensive understanding of attachment, neurobiology, and mentalization domains in therapeutic approaches for autism. After presenting a synthesis of the literature, we offer a set of clinical strategies for the work with children with autism. Finally, we provide recommendations to advance the field towards more robust models that can serve as a basis for evidence-based therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Social robot interaction design is crucial for determining user acceptance and experience. However, few studies have systematically discussed the current focus and future research directions of social robot interaction design from a bibliometric perspective. Therefore, we conducted this study in order to identify the latest research progress and evolution trajectory of research hotspots in social robot interaction design over the last decade. (2) Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review based on 2416 papers related to social robot interaction design obtained from the Web of Science (WOS) database. Our review utilized bibliometric techniques and integrated VOSviewer and CiteSpace to construct a knowledge map. (3) Conclusions: The current research hotspots of social robot interaction design mainly focus on #1 the study of human–robot relationships in social robots, #2 research on the emotional design of social robots, #3 research on social robots for children's psychotherapy, #4 research on companion robots for elderly rehabilitation, and #5 research on educational social robots. The reference co-citation analysis identifies the classic literature that forms the basis of the current research, which provides theoretical guidance and methods for the current research. Finally, we discuss several future research directions and challenges in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early‐onset depression contributes significantly to the global health burden and has long‐term negative effects. This meta‐analysis collates and examines the effectiveness of family‐based interventions, where family members are involved in the treatment of depression in children and adolescents. A literature search was performed up to 8th March 2023. Randomised controlled trials of family‐based interventions were included for participants aged 3–18 years with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder or dysthymia, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM‐5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) or with a score above a cut‐off on a standardised self‐report depression measure. The overall effect size for treatment versus active control was g = 0.22 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.05–0.50) (nine studies; 659 participants), and for treatment versus non‐active control it was g = 0.46 (95% CI: −0.09–1.01) (four studies; 385 participants). Effect sizes were not statistically significant, and heterogeneity was high, ranging between I2 = 64.3–81.1%. Subgroup analysis comparing attachment‐based family therapy with family therapy using other theoretical frameworks did not yield a significant difference between the two. The effects of family‐based therapies were larger than those in the comparison groups, but family‐based therapy did not demonstrate a significant treatment benefit compared to the controls. More randomised controlled trials are warranted, considering that evidence for other psychotherapies for depression in children and adolescents, indicates modest effects. Family‐based therapy may be an alternative for children and adolescents whose needs are not addressed by these treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Melbourne Study of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy examined the implementation, lived experience, and perceived therapeutic gains of psychoanalytic psychotherapy in a low‐cost, private‐sector community clinic. A first in Australia, this 8‐year demonstration project allowed naturalistic study of the impact and process of intensive, long‐term, time‐limited psychoanalytic psychotherapy delivered to self‐referred adults by clinicians with a common theoretical frame of practice. Presented in three papers, the research employed the RE‐AIM planning and evaluation framework, using complementary quantitative and qualitative methods, to study the psychotherapy service in terms of Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance. This first paper reports the Reach of the program to be 67% for those presenting for assessment for psychoanalytic psychotherapy, with Adoption of the full 2‐year treatment program being 60%. Improvements in mental health and life functioning provided quantitative evidence of Effectiveness for those completing the 2‐year treatment program, with Maintenance at 8‐month follow‐up. Patient age, gender and personality characteristics did not modify these improvements. In‐depth qualitative exploration of patient and psychotherapist perspectives regarding the psychotherapy is reported in the second paper highlighting expectations, experience and benefits of the psychotherapy. The third companion paper presents the qualitative findings concerning factors experienced as facilitating or challenging therapeutic progress. Each of the three related papers amplifies understandings of how low‐cost, long‐term but time‐limited psychoanalytic psychotherapy can be implemented in the community with adults otherwise unable to afford such treatment, and discusses lessons learned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schools are making an important contribution to providing access to professional counselling for young people and their families. The population of children who access school counselling includes young people who have experienced severe and complex trauma in their early life, which presents itself as post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a recommended method of intervention for PTSD, with effective results in a short time. However, school counsellors are rarely specifically trained to work with complex trauma or PTSD. This article presents a case study exploring the integration of the EMDR eight‐phase protocol into child psychotherapy in an English primary school setting with a 5‐year‐old boy who suffered complex trauma. Following treatment, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) score and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD‐7) score—filled in by the child's parent and schoolteacher because of the child's age—decreased to non‐clinical levels. The six‐month follow‐up assessment confirmed the improvement in the emotional well‐being of the client. The promising results suggest the value of having adequately qualified child psychotherapists linked to primary schools to support emotionally vulnerable pupils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jung's early work lays the groundwork for psychopoetics, a psychology rooted in the creative processes of the human psyche. The selected chapters position Jung's theories in relation to the concept of Other, while examining current events and cultural phenomena through the lens of Jungian and post-Jungian psychology. Aniela Jaffé presents thoughts and ruminations that Jung shared with her as they prepared I Memories, Dreams, Reflections i by C. G. Jung. Lockdown Therapy: Jungian Perspectives on How the Pandemic Changed Psychoanalysis. [Extracted from the article]

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