Child Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Therapist Pregnancy: Systematic Case Study

Authors

  • Fernanda Munhoz Driemeier Schmidt Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos
  • Marina Bento Gastaud Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos
  • Vera Regina Röhnelt Ramires Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-4327e2836

Keywords:

psychoanalytic psychotherapy, child psychotherapy, psychotherapeutic process

Abstract

The present study aimed to describe the characteristics of the psychodynamic psychotherapeutic process of a child with a pregnant therapist and to identify possible repercussions of this pregnancy in the treatment. A descriptive, longitudinal study was conducted, based on systematic single case study procedure. The participants were an eight-year-old girl and her therapist who became pregnant during treatment. Forty psychotherapeutic sessions were analyzed through Child Psychotherapy Q-Set procedure. The therapeutic process was divided into four periods related to the therapist’s pregnancy: (1) the therapist was not pregnant; (2) therapist knew of her pregnancy but the topic had not been verbalized; (3) the pregnancy was treated in the therapeutic setting; (4) return of maternity leave. The results demonstrated that the therapist has adopted a less neutral stance, used less limits, and breaks and pauses in treatment were increasingly discussed. It was concluded that the therapist´s pregnancy influences the therapeutic setting in a marked way.

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Published

2018-07-02

Issue

Section

Psychology of Health

How to Cite

Schmidt, F. M. D., Gastaud, M. B., & Ramires, V. R. R. (2018). Child Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Therapist Pregnancy: Systematic Case Study. Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto), 28, e2836. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-4327e2836