Difficult Moments in Child Psychotherapy

About the Course

This book is concerned with difficult moments that actually occur during child-centered psychotherapy sessions and with ways of dealing with them or preventing them from becoming disasters. A number of clinical vignettes-both hypothetical and actual-based on the authors experiences and those provided by some of the most renowned child and adolescent psychiatrists at the time provide enriching strategies for understanding and dealing with difficult moments that inevitably arise during child therapy. This book enables the reader to glimpse into the therapist’ consultation rooms and see exactly how each of them has dealt with his or her most difficult moments. It is really a book of concrete and specific strategies that is intended to calm the pounding hearts of therapists anticipating difficult moments in work with their child clients. Some recommend it as required reading for all students before they see their first real patient.

This course is based on the book, Difficult Moments in Child Psychotherapy created by Stewart Gabel, MD, Gerald Oster, Ph.D., & Cynthia Pfeffer, MD

Course Material Author

Course Creator

Course Objectives:

After taking this course, you should be able to:

1. to become more aware of child clients' actions and behaviors as symbolic
2. to understand that there are no "right" answers, but many possibilities
3. to enhance knowledge of possible circumstances and outcomes in everyday practice
4. to understand that difficult moments are frequently not catastrophes and can be overcome
5. to enrich the reader with concrete and specific strategies that can be used during the most difficult and embarrassing situation