Observations of children cutting up, cutting out and sticking down.

The process of cutting up, cutting- out, and sticking down is discussed in relation to children's use of scissors in therapy. I am interested in how the observation of children working can help to trace the dynamics of the child's inner world in a way that is helpful in both understanding their distress and in aiding a growing picture of how the therapy is developing. The use of scissors, which have two blades, may suggest different internalisations of helpful or abusive parents. A discussion of Edward Scissorhands is offered to begin thinking about the destructive, creative, and decorative aspects of cutting out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]