Tribute to Anna

Abstract

The case of Richard was originally presented in 1994 when Anna and Paul Ornstein visited Vienna, Austria. This article presents some sequences of Richard’s psychotherapy, an 8-year-old boy diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Many questions arise: What is the relevance of psychopathological diagnoses in this process? What is the role of language in this endeavor? How do we make contact with the inner world of a child when we have such limited view of that world? Where do I fit in the complex self-selfobject milieu of my little patient?

Keywords:

• autism spectrum disorder
• child psychotherapy
• immersing into the inner world of the child

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Andrea Harms

Andrea Harms, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst in private practice in Vienna and Gmunden, Austria. She is a training analyst, supervisor, and president of the Vienna Circle for Psychoanalysis and Self Psychology (WKPS) and a member of the International Council for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology.