The identification, assessment and treatment of emotional abuse demands a multi- disciplinary approach due to the complexity and multifactoral nature of the task in hand. Child psychiatry services have an important part to play. Common themes emerging in our work are outlined, illustrated with case material, which have furthered our understanding of damaging family interactional patterns and the psychological effect they have on children. Some repeated experiences in the process of intervention are explored in the article. The existence of the consultation group has been essential to pull together our thinking around this complicated and demanding area of clinical work.
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