Psychotherapy training in child psychiatry

Abstract

SUMMARY This is an account of a child psychiatrist's first experience of supervised individual psychotherapy with children. It describes a progression from preconceptions and caricaturisation of therapy and therapist, to finding an effective way of working. The progress is through experiencing psychotherapy and supervision sessions, as well as reading relevant material. The psychotherapy was effective both clinically and as an introduction to the area of psychodynamic practice.