The Presence of the Therapist uses clinical studies based on the author's publications over the past 18 years to illustrate work with severely distressed children. The reader is encouraged to enter a dialogue with the author to explore the many dilemmas and difficulties of working with a person who has become highly defensive or fearful as a result of what has happened to them.

This book is a highly stimulating account of psychotherapeutic practice. It facilitates careful and broad thought about the therapeutic process and relationship that will improve clinical practice. The practical advice on how to survive in this demanding work will be of great benefit to all psychotherapists.

About the Author

Monica Lanyado is a psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapist. She is co-editor, with Ann Horne, of The Handbook of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy: Psychoanalytic Approaches.

Reviews

'This book is the distillation of many years of rich experience of psychotherapy with traumatised children. The main theme of the book discusses the concept of the 'presence' of the therapist, something that cannot be left outside the consulting room. I find this thesis very cogent. It helped me to clarify in retrospect some of my own clinical experience. I am happy to recommend it to therapists of adults as well as children.'

- Isabel Menzies Lyth, Child and Adult Psychoanalyst, Organisational Consultant Oxford, UK

'Lanyado charts her many years of treating very disturbed children, often with appalling histories of abuse, neglect and abandonment, in a variety of settings. She is especially concerned with exploring the personal nature of what the therapist takes into the the consulting room and how this links with the process of therapeutic change... Lanyado uses many clinical examples to weave her thoughts around the central theme of the presence of the therapist in the process of psychic change wrought in the clinical encounter... Lanyado's account of her work and her thoughtful, imaginative way of making sense of it... shows her readers how this deep and courageous preparedness to know one's own responses is ultimately in the service of reaching the patient.' - Angela Joyce, International Journal of Psychoanalysis

'I have admired the author's valuable contributions to the field for more than 15 years. She has consistently shown insight and courage in bringing ideas to our awareness that have not previously been part of the psychoanalytic discussion, particularly in relation to the impact of trauma on patients and therapists alike.' - Mary Sue Moore, Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist, Boulder, Colorado, USA

'The author's work is beautifully succinct, lucid, elegant and moving and achieves a fine balance in showing both how new theoretical formulations emerged from her clinical practice and how this practice is grounded in a strong theoretical orientation, which she simultaneously tests and deepens through clinical reflection.' - Andrew Cooper, Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Tavistock Clinic, London, UK

'Lanyado charts her many years of treating very disturbed children, often with appalling histories of abuse, neglect and abandonment, in a variety of settings. She is especially concerned with exploring the personal nature of what the therapist takes into the the consulting room and how this links with the process of therapeutic change... Lanyado uses many clinical examples to weave her thoughts around the central theme of the presence of the therapist in the process of psychic change wrought in the clinical encounter... Lanyado's account of her work and her thoughtful, imaginative way of making sense of it... shows her readers how this deep and courageous preparedness to know one's own responses is ultimately in the service of reaching the patient.'- Angela Joyce, International Journalof Psychoanalysis

Book Information
ISBN 9781583912980
Author Monica Lanyado
Format Paperback
Page Count 160
Imprint Brunner-Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 540g