What Can the Matter Be?: Therapeutic Interventions with Parents, Infants and Young Children

by Elizabeth Bradley, Louise Emanuel

Overview

This book describes the particular approach to clinical work with under fives that has been developed at the Tavistock Clinic. It sets out new approaches in the understanding and treatment of psychological disturbance in children, adolescents, and adults, both as individual and in families.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781855753402
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/31/2008
Series:	Tavistock Clinic Series
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Bradley, Elizabeth | Emanuel, Louise

Table of Contents

Series Editor's Preface — Foreword — Preface — Introduction — Theory and Practice — Early developments — Brief work with parents of infants — The relation of infant observation to clinical practice in an under-fives counselling service — Infant–parent psychotherapy: Selma Fraiberg’s contribution to understanding the past in the present — Later developments — The process of change in under-fives work — A slow unfolding—at double speed: therapeutic interventions with parents and their young children — A sinking heart: whose problem is it? Under-fives work in the surgery of a general practitioner — Common Themes in work with under Fives — Challenging and disruptive behaviour — Anger between children and parents: how can we help? — Disruptive and distressed toddlers: the impact of undetected maternal depression on infants and young children — Where the wild things are: tantrums and behaviour problems in two under-fives boys — The parent couple and oedipal issues — Locating the ghost in the nursery: the importance of the parental couple — Father “there and not there”: the concept of a “united couple” in families with unstable partnerships — Oedipal issues in under-fives families: creating a space for thinking — Separation and loss; weaning and growth — Spanning presence and absence: separation anxiety in the early years — Sleeping and feeding problems: attunement and daring to be different — Holding the balance: life and death in the early years

Editorial Reviews

This volume is the result of over twenty years of therapeutic interventions with families within the Tavistock Clinic’s Under Fives Service. It describes in detail the process of understanding young children’s communications and behaviour and the dynamics of family relationships within the consulting room in a lively, accessible style. It covers common themes in work with young children such as disruptive, angry behaviour, separation and sleep difficulties, and problems in the parent/couple relationship. This book is essential reading for all early years professionals hoping to gain a greater understanding of the technique, observational skills and theory which underlie a psychodynamic approach to work with the under fives.

Margot Waddell

This collection of papers is an important resource for clinicians intervening with troubled under fives and their families. The writing vividly conveys the intense passions of young children's emotional life and represents a distillation of clinical expertise, in particular the therapists' creative commitment to reaching the children and their families. Deeply moving and inspiring, this book sends a message of hopefulness that thoughtful clinical intervention can have a transformative effect on the lives of children and their families.

Frances Thomson Salo

This scholarly book is a welcome addition to the expanding field of literature on infant mental health and, in particular, to clinical work with infants and their parents. The book describes clearly how the application of observational skills, psychoanalytic concepts and child development research underpin the work, making it accessible to all mental health professionals, whether infant, child or adult therapists.

Elizabeth Tuters (Toronto

This lively book will prove invaluable to professionals in both clinic and community settings. Rich case material brought by each contributor illustrates the complexities of brief focused work in families with young children whose distress manifests in a variety of presenting problems. Modelling for clients their own emotional availability and capacity to withstand the tremendous impact of powerful forces, these very experienced clinicians support families by providing thinking space and promoting thoughtfulness.

Professor Joan Raphael-Leff

This rich collection celebrates the Tavistock Clinic Under Fives Service, which has much to teach us about the needs and possibilities of therapeutic interventions for families. With its multi-layered approach—to theory, service provision and clinical practice; to infants, toddlers and children; to their parents as adults now and as children then—this riveting book can be read on many levels and should be required reading for all those involved in ‘the early years’.

Penelope Leach

This rich collection celebrates the Tavistock Clinic Under Fives Service, which has much to teach us about the needs and possibilities of therapeutic interventions for families. With its multi-layered approach--to theory, service provision and clinical practice; to infants, toddlers and children; to their parents as adults now and as children then--this riveting book can be read on many levels and should be required reading for all those involved in ‘the early years’.”

“This lively book will prove invaluable to professionals in both clinic and community settings. Rich case material brought by each contributor illustrates the complexities of brief focused work in families with young children whose distress manifests in a variety of presenting problems. Modelling for clients their own emotional availability and capacity to withstand the tremendous impact of powerful forces, these very experienced clinicians support families by providing thinking space and promoting thoughtfulness.”

“This scholarly book is a welcome addition to the expanding field of literature on infant mental health and, in particular, to clinical work with infants and their parents. The book describes clearly how the application of observational skills, psychoanalytic concepts and child development research underpin the work, making it accessible to all mental health professionals, whether infant, child or adult therapists.”

“This collection of papers is an important resource for clinicians intervening with troubled under fives and their families. The writing vividly conveys the intense passions of young children's emotional life and represents a distillation of clinical expertise, in particular the therapists' creative commitment to reaching the children and their families. Deeply moving and inspiring, this book sends a message of hopefulness that thoughtful clinical intervention can have a transformative effect on the lives of children and their families.”

“This volume is the result of over twenty years of therapeutic interventions with families within the Tavistock Clinic’s Under Fives Service. It describes in detail the process of understanding young children’s communications and behaviour and the dynamics of family relationships within the consulting room in a lively, accessible style. It covers common themes in work with young children such as disruptive, angry behaviour, separation and sleep difficulties, and problems in the parent/couple relationship. This book is essential reading for all early years professionals hoping to gain a greater understanding of the technique, observational skills and theory which underlie a psychodynamic approach to work with the under fives.

From the Publisher