Developmental Evaluation of Children and Adolescents: A Psychodynamic Guide offers an in-depth, multiperspective analysis of any delays, regressions, or aberrations in a child's developmental trajectory.

Blackman and Dring help the evaluator understand the child's internal conflicts, as well as the family/environmental context in which the child functions. Chapters move longitudinally through the developmental stages. In each chapter, there are several "key questions" for evaluators to ask parents, fulfilling the need for clinicians to quickly assess children, followed by a longer question sheet and explanation of various answers to the questions for a more thorough assessment. Each chapter also provides a discussion of the child's phase and a table listing the questions and answers for quick reference. Finally, brief case studies demonstrate how the developmental history and the initial session with the child should be integrated.

This book serves as an essential clinical guide to the developmental evaluation of children and will be suitable for all therapists working with children.

About the Author

Jerome S. Blackman, MD, who has been in private practice of psychoanalysis and psychiatry for 47 years, is Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Eastern Virginia Medical School and Training and Supervising Analyst with the Contemporary Freudian Society in Washington, DC.

Kathleen Dring, JD, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist and attorney, who has had a private clinical psychology practice for 26 years. She has focused on treating and evaluating children and adolescents.

Reviews

"This book is written by authors with extensive psychoanalytic knowledge of the developing mind and experience working with children and adolescents. I consider it a valuable handbook for mental health workers, parents, grandparents, child care workers, teachers, coaches and anyone involved with children and adolescents. They will find guidelines for understanding and dealing with the young ones and their families."

Vamik D. Volkan, M. D., Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia and Founder and Emeritus President of the International Dialogue Initiative

"This is an up-to-date unique synthesis of all available developmental-dynamic and inter-disciplinary literature on the subject, brought together in a comprehensive, clinically applicable and reader-friendly illustrative form, to be used as a guide, a template, and a map.

A 'must read' for mental health clinicians working with children and adolescents (and their families), it can be immensely useful to parents , pediatricians and childcare workers in any field, and be a resource for any academic or clinical course on the dynamics of child development, psychopathology and psychotherapeutic intervention."

Eva D. Papiasvili, PhD, ABPP; Chair, IPA Inter-Regional Encyclopedic Dictionary of Psychoanalysis (IRED)

"Dring and Blackman are on a most laudable mission: to return long-established psychoanalytic developmental theory to wide use in evaluating mental health issues of children and adolescents. Their book is a comprehensive plain-English overview of theory along with a pragmatic step-wise guide to its implementation. It deserves wide readership among both clinicians and caregivers."

Jeffrey H. Golland, PhD, FAPA, FIPA; Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

"With unabashed determination, the authors provide a relevant offering for evaluating children and adolescents, beginning with pregnancy. Their writing emanates from the explosion of developmental research since the 1970's. Clear descriptions of modernized psychoanalytic developmental theory, evaluation guidelines, assessment tools, and clinical examples afford the reader an organized way of understanding what children and parents need."

Janet Schiff, LCSW, FIPA, Supervising and Training Analyst, Contemporary Freudian Society, Washington, DC

"This is the book I wish I had available to read when I was a resident during my child psychiatry rotation. As mid-career adult psychiatrist, my practice is enriched by having read it. Drs. Blackman and Dring have created a concise, methodical primer filled with enlightening and practical guidance. I would recommend this book to anyone at any stage of their career who uses their specialized knowledge in caring for children, guiding parents, or is simply curious about the relevance of psychodynamic thinking in cultivation of adaptive family relationships."

Aileen Kim MD; President of Virginia Psychoanalytic Society, 2018-2022; Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; President, American Society of Psychoanalytic Physicians

"Developmental Evaluation of Children and Adolescents: Psychodynamic Guide is a timely volume. It integrates psychodynamic and developmental principles which enable mental health practitioners carefully evaluate the nature of children's problematic adaptations. I was particularly impressed with the list of simple questions for each phase, a wonderful guide for both the novice and the experienced."

Leon Hoffman, MD; President, Center for Regulation Focused Psychotherapy; Chief Psychiatrist, West End Day School, New York City; Co-Director Pacella Research Center, New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute

"Through a skillful process of inquiry parents are helped in understanding their children's developmental status, including the need for treatment where indicated. Integrating psychoanalytic developmental knowledge, specific issues, such as autism and ADHD, and medical problems are addressed. The instructive interchange facilitates relationships between parents and therapists essential for treatment.

This deeply thoughtful and comprehensive book is a an invaluable resource for all mental health professionals who work with children and/or parents."

Harold P. Blum, M.D.; Training and Supervising Analyst, Psychoanalytic Association of New York; Former editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American psychoanalytic Association

Book Information
ISBN 9781032189444
Author Jerome S. Blackman
Format Paperback
Page Count 204
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 440g