A psychoanalytic child psychotherapy contribution to generic assessments

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychology
• Psychotherapy Research
• Psychodynamic Theory

Background:

• Psychoanalytically trained child and adolescent psychotherapists have a history of applying psychodynamic principles to various therapeutic modalities.
• This includes family work, consultations, and brief therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the processes involved in generic assessments conducted by a child psychotherapist.
• To describe the actual events and dynamics occurring during these assessments.
• To detail specific skills and techniques employed by the author during assessments.

Main Methods:

• The study involved the author, a psychoanalytically trained child and adolescent psychotherapist, conducting and reflecting on her own generic assessments.
• Qualitative investigation of the processes and techniques used.

Main Results:

• The research presents findings on the intricacies of generic assessments in child psychotherapy.
• Specific skills and techniques utilized by the author during these assessments are described.

Conclusions:

• The study offers valuable insights into the practical application of psychodynamic thinking in child and adolescent assessment.
• Understanding these processes can enhance psychotherapeutic practice and training.