From psychoanalysis to psychoanalytic psychotherapy in public assistance. An example of focalization in brief treatment for children

Abstract

The author describes a route from psychoanalysis to short-term psychotherapy applied in mental health institutional settings taking time as a key factor, both in its chronological and developmental sense. He sees short-term psychotherapy as a focalized treatment and the choosing of the focus as an important and fundamental moment in the whole therapeutic process. Important requirements on both, therapist and patient are mentioned as well as specific characteristics in regard to the therapy of children. With the help of clinical material of a seven-year-old boy case, the election of the focus is described and justified. The results proved the focus to be well selected.