Psychoanalysis and Severe Disorders in Young Children: Clinical and Community Work with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Child Mental Health

Psychoanalysis and Severe Disorders in Young Children presents case material and resources for professionals working with young children in the clinic and in the community.

Presented in two main parts, the book explores Nahir Bonifacino’s work with children and their parents. The first part presents clinical case material from her work with several young children with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, illustrating an adaptation of child psychoanalytic technique that encourages patient communication. Part 2 considers outreach in the community, with resources for parents and professionals in frontline care roles that focus on a preventative approach to child mental health. The book closes with an appendix which translates psychoanalytic resources for use in early childhood education and care institutions.

Psychoanalysis and Severe Disorders in Young Children will be of great interest to child psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists, clinical and educational psychologists, child psychiatrists, social workers, teachers and carers.

Nahir Bonifacino is a child and adolescent psychoanalyst based in Uruguay. She holds a PhD in Perinatal and Infant Psychology and Psychopathology and is a member of the Uruguayan Psychoanalytical Association and the International Psychoanalytical Association.