Editorial

This issue is the second of our “Special Editions” devoted to a specific theme - this time on work with children under five. Submissions to the Journal for this issue revealed the impressive extent and effectiveness of work being done with this age-group, particularly in the form of short term interventions with parents and infants, usually at an early stage in the development of difficulties. It would appear that, while individual psychotherapy is still the treatment of choice for some children under five, particularly in the latter half of the age range, many psychotherapists have been adapting their observational skills, insight and technique to a style of work with very young children and their parents that addresses the relationship between them directly.

Over and again, examples were given of cases where a mere handful of joint sessions made a profound and lasting impact on what had seemed to be overwhelming problems. In the interests of producing a balanced and representative Journal, it has not been possible to include all these fascinating papers, many of which illustrated a similar approach, but the first three published here give an idea of the nature and value of this kind of work.

The next two papers in this issue illustrate longer term treatments, but again in the first of the two the decision was made to conduct the therapeutic sessions with the parents present. The second is the only account in this Journal of a more “orthodox” individual psychotherapy. It might be felt that such treatment is under-represented in this issue, and indeed it was interesting that relatively few papers of this kind were submitted to the editorial board. What shines through all the papers, however, is that, although child psychotherapists are using their training and experience to respond flexibly to the needs of this youngest age group, their ability to do so rests solidly on the foundations of the deep understanding gained in individual work, coupled with the infant observ