Doing Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy: Adapting Psychodynamic Treatment to Contemporary Practice

Description

This readable guide for therapists and therapists-in-training lays out the theoretical essence and practical essentials of doing child and adolescent psychotherapy from the referral call to the last goodbye.

New to this Edition

• Outlines the debate between evidence-based therapies and relationship-based therapies and shows how to use the power of each.
• New edition includes more on therapeutic drugs; integrating therapy tools including cognitive, behavioral, and educational interventions; practicing within the confines of managed care; and provides direction for interested readers to the germane literature supporting the text's advice.

Hallmark Features

• Only book to combine practical and thorough coverage with a readable suitable for mental health professionals of any theoretical school who value the therapeutic relationship.

Reviews

"In this updated text, psychologist Richard Bromfield, Ph.D. opens a window into child therapy at its best. Highly recommended, this lively volume will be of great interest to professionals working in clinic or office practice, as well as to experienced clinicians who teach or supervise child psychotherapy." (New England Psychologist, July 2009)

"…is a comprehensive yet coherent guide to counseling youth. He gives the social work student and current practitioner a realistic view of working with children." (Socialworker.com, 7/2008)

"Through an accessible and contemporary overview of psychodynamic work with adolescents, this book draws from the author's years of experience as a practitioner with children, adolescents, and families. This second volume is colorfully written, and full of rich clinical insights written in plain language." (Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, June 2008)

"'Doing Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy' is excellent--engaging, fun, educational, and thought provoking. It would be a great addition to the library of both the novice and the experienced therapist." —Abigail L. Donovan, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital (JAACAP, June 2008)

Table of Contents

What’s New to the Second Edition.
Preface to the First Edition.
Acknowledgments.
To the Reader.

Part I The Essentials.

1 Easy Does It: Beginning Therapy.
2 Can I Help You? Evaluating the Child and Offering Treatment.
3 The Not-So-Magic of Therapy: How Therapy Works.
4 Do Fence Me In: The Bounds and Limits.
5 Tell Me Where It Hurts: On Talking and Querying.

Part II Techniques and Tools.

6 The Lowdown on High Drama: Playing with Puppets and Action Figures.
7 Shoot, Topple, and Roll: Using Games, Building Toys, and Guns.
8 Drawing Out the Child: Artwork in Therapy.
9 All Together Now: Balancing Play and Talk.
10 Pushing the Envelope: On Giving, Telling, and Other Exceptions.

Part III The Rest.

11 Handle with Care: Working with Parents.
12 Handle with Care, Part II: More Work with Parents.
13 On Brotherly Love and Musical Chairs: Family Work.
14 Talking Heads: Working with Schools and Other Agencies.
15 Hard Times: Unwilling Patients and Therapeutic Crises.
16 Getting to Know You, Getting to Know Me: Race, Religion, and Culture.
17 When Therapy Is Not Enough: Medication.
18 I Can Name That Tune in Six Sessions: Managed Care and Evidence-Based Treatment.
19 All’s Well That Ends Well: Closing Therapy.

References.
Index.
About the Author.

Author Information

Richard Bromfield is a faculty member of Harvard Medical School’s Massachusetts Mental Health Center. He has written extensively about children, psychotherapy, and family life, and maintains a private practice with children and adult clients.