The mutism of the mind: child and family therapists at work with children and families suffering with selective mutism.
Saved in:
| Title: | The mutism of the mind: child and family therapists at work with children and families suffering with selective mutism. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Monzo, Maria Pozzi (AUTHOR), Micotti, Sara (AUTHOR), Rashid, Shila (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Child Psychotherapy. Apr2015, Vol. 41 Issue 1, p22-40. 19p. |
| Subjects: | Selective mutism, Family relations, Child psychotherapy, Parent-child communication, Grief, Emotions in children, Children, Psychology |
| Abstract: | The study of selective mutism in children who are well-functioning in all other areas of their lives, has featured very little in the psychoanalytic literature. Yet, more and more children from as young as four up to adolescence are being referred with this symptomatic presentation to our public and private clinics. This paper attempts to bridge this gap by presenting a comprehensive literature review and two case histories of children who chose not to speak outside of their family home. The complex family and intergenerational dysfunctional dynamics around issues of trauma, loss, immigration and dislocation, which contributed to the formation of the symptoms of selective mutism are explored. In the first of these two cases, the individual psychotherapy carried on painstakingly by the child psychotherapist began with parent–child psychotherapy; the second one began with family therapy and was followed by individual child psychotherapy with parallel family therapy. Both children, their ‘silent’ parents and families were helped to give thoughts and words to unthinkable events and emotions, thus achieving a better level of communication. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] |
| Copyright of Journal of Child Psychotherapy is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | The study of selective mutism in children who are well-functioning in all other areas of their lives, has featured very little in the psychoanalytic literature. Yet, more and more children from as young as four up to adolescence are being referred with this symptomatic presentation to our public and private clinics. This paper attempts to bridge this gap by presenting a comprehensive literature review and two case histories of children who chose not to speak outside of their family home. The complex family and intergenerational dysfunctional dynamics around issues of trauma, loss, immigration and dislocation, which contributed to the formation of the symptoms of selective mutism are explored. In the first of these two cases, the individual psychotherapy carried on painstakingly by the child psychotherapist began with parent–child psychotherapy; the second one began with family therapy and was followed by individual child psychotherapy with parallel family therapy. Both children, their ‘silent’ parents and families were helped to give thoughts and words to unthinkable events and emotions, thus achieving a better level of communication. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0075417X |
| DOI: | 10.1080/0075417X.2015.1005385 |
