Through Windows of Opportunity: A Neuroaffective Approach to Child Psychotherapy

by Marianne Bentzen, Susan Hart

Overview

Research has shown that nonspecific factors such as relationship and personality have a stronger correlation to outcome than method. The basic argument of Through Windows of Opportunity is that skilled psychotherapists do similar things while describing them differently, and that psychological healing is created in the context of relationship. This book presents the work of four therapists: Peter Levine from the USA (working with with Somatic Experiencing on trauma states); Jukka Makela from Finland (with Theraplay, working with disorganized attachment); Haldor Ovreeide from Norway (with a therapeutic conversation in a disrupted son-mother dyad); and Eia Asen from the London Marlborough Clinic (with systemic and mentalization-based family therapy working on a dependent attachment pattern). The closing chapters of the book summarize the high points of the discussions among the four therapists about nonspecific but shared aspects of their interventions, moderated by the authors.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781782201588
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/16/2015
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 3.10(d)

About the Author

Marianne Bentzen

Table of Contents

ABOUT THE AUTHORS FOREWORD Colwyn Trevarthen INTRODUCTION CHAPTER ONE The importance of present moments CHAPTER TWO Neuroaffective developmental psychology: a 'map' for understanding child psychotherapyCHAPTER THREE The autonomic compass and somatic experiencing CHAPTER FOUR The limbic compass and Theraplay CHAPTER FIVE The prefrontal compass and developmentally supportive conversations with childrenCHAPTER SIX The second growth spurt and multi-family mentalization-based therapyCHAPTER SEVEN The therapist in the role of caravan leader CHAPTER EIGHT Enacting the child's feelings in the psychotherapeutic processCHAPTER NINE Magic and transformationCHAPTER TEN Emotions, words, and mentalization CHAPTER ELEVEN Parental involvement CHAPTER TWELVE Closing remarks REFERENCES INDEX

Editorial Reviews

"This book is a very valuable practical application of my decades of developmental research on the psychobiological transformations of meaning from somatic processes in infancy to cortical processes in adolescence. Building on my work with my colleagues in the Boston Process Change Group, Marianne Bentzen and Susan Hart focus on the micro-regulatory processes between parents and children and therapist and patients that generate transformation processes in psychotherapy. As we proposed in the Boston group, the authors see the therapeutic relationship itself as the single most powerful process in psychotherapy. This book begins to reveal that any therapist in every moment simultaneously operates at as multiple psychobiological meaning making levels that can map onto the polymorphic meaning making of the child, such that new meanings and transformations are co-created. The neuroaffective compass model presented provides the clinician working with children and their families with directionality at these multiple levels. "

Ed Tronick

"This intriguing and original book is the first exploration of the “moments of meeting” paradigm, which Dan Stern would have been delighted with and all of us can learn from. The authors have provided a highly integrated application of neuroaffective developmental psychology to bring a revitalising perspective to psychological therapy for children. It is well worth reading – and reading again."

Professor Peter Fonagy