Stop, Look, and Listen: Being a Child Psychotherapist

Abstract

Therapeutic stance, attention to process, and empathic connection represent crucial dimensions of effective child psychotherapy. These concepts are explored with illustrative composite case vignettes, drawn from clinical practice in child psychotherapy and classroom consultation. When clinical treatment adequately integrates stance, process, and connection, patients engage forward development with enhanced capacities to play, work, and relate.

Keywords:

• therapeutic stance
• attention to process
• empathic connection

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author would like to acknowledge William Gieseke, Peter Shaft, Mary Lou DeNardo, Erika Schmidt, Joe Palombo, and Gerald Schamess for their friendship and willingness to share their knowledge. Thanks also to Jeanine Kay for her technical expertise.