Editorial

This issue of the Journal contains a wide range of papers on theoretical, clinical and research topics.

Caccia's article explores the theoretical landscape of primal splitting with an erudite and in-depth consideration of the development of Kleinian thought, including the key influences of Meltzer and Bion. She considers defects in early splitting processes and their impact on cognitive and emotional development by means of a detailed case study. Sensitive clinical work is described with three-year-old Roberto, who was referred with extreme feeding problems and separation issues that greatly improve over the course of his psychotherapy. Of particular interest in the article is how Caccia modifies her technique actively to address particular distortions of truth and perception while simultaneously holding and working with Roberto in the transference relationship.

Issues pertaining to technique are also in evidence in the first of two papers by Swedish authors. May Nilsson's centres on the use of games in psychotherapy with children, and their potential meaning and benefit. The view that games are therapeutically useful is a theme often echoed in recent papers published in the JCP. Nilsson vividly describes her twice-weekly psychotherapy with Peter, a four-and-a-half-year-old autistic boy who inadvertently discovers a game of table hockey in the consulting room, a situation that will undoubtedly resonate with many readers who have experienced similar, unexpected occurrences in the course of clinical work. In Peter's case, his discovery becomes a pivotal point in his treatment as his psychotherapist skilfully incorporates the use of the game during sessions, in an active approach to reach him.

The theme of emotional growth and the difficulties inherent therein, are the subject of Music and Chantrell's papers and interestingly, echoed in the theme of emotional readiness in the clinical commentary.

In ‘Neglecting neglect’, Music makes an original contribution to furthering