Every Child is a Group: The Girl of the Snakes

Abstract

When working with a child, the therapist must deal–separately or jointly–with all the parental figures present in the attributions, drivers, and injunctions the child uses in creating and enacting stories and that are an integral part of his or her life. Consequently, the child therapist witnesses the workings of entire family groups and sometimes even becomes their indirect therapist (in the sense of “transformational element” and “therapeia” as attention, caring, and healing). This role is extremely delicate, and although it must not be intrusive or invade the precious intimacy of the patient/therapist relationship, it should nevertheless favor the evolution and potential reorganization of the family as a whole.