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The excitement of the analytic process in its immediacy is difficult to convey. Many things are happening at once for patient and analyst in their separate internal worlds in the analytic space in which they work and create together, and with children in specific in their play with its symbolic and actual action. The child may “become” an attacking monster, bake cookies of clay on the analyst's desk, hide immovably under a table, tie up the therapist, or enact an endless variety of roles at different times. The analyst, of course, is often enlisted to participate in the child's fantasy play, and may spend very little time in a session as a bystander. Throughout, the therapist must maintain an analytic attitude and help the child with the internal struggles that are reflected in the child's conscious worries and behaviors. Morton Chethik, in his newest book, Techniques of Child Therapy: Psychodynamic Strategies, exquisitely portrays the analytic action in the therapeutic setting with children. He tells us what he does and then, in italics, he further explains how his thinking is informed in the moment, and expands on theoretical and technical aspects of the work. I was caught up in the case material and found myself truly caring about these children and the powerful psychic struggles overwhelming their young minds. I wondered if, like Chethik, I could have moved so fluidly among the roles of being in the play, observing the child's mental processes, and finding the language to articulate the child's experience.
According to Chethik's text:
Andy [51/2] continues the (same) game of the crook-police-judge using his Legos. The crook is jailed for stealing, only to escape, and he receives greater and greater punishments.… “No, no, don't run me over,” I say, in a falsetto voice. “Help, you're hurting me,” I express in the play. Andy gleefully does his dirty work.… I put words to the attack-“The head is popping off … blood is shooting out of his body,” and so forth. I can see