The author describes how he uses modern psychoanalytic techniques in his work with children as a psychoanalyst, teacher of art, and author/illustrator of children's books. Case examples illustrate how children and adolescents communicate in symbolic language the hidden thoughts and feelings that they cannot consciously comprehend or that they fear will be rejected by their parents, teachers, and other caretakers. The author discusses how play and art therapy techniques are used to gain understanding of each symbolic communication in order to help children and adolescents put their thoughts and feelings into words and remove the emotional blocks that prevent them from realizing their full potential.