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Almost 20 years has passed since publication of the first textbook in Finnish on child psychotherapy (Jokipaltio et al., 1986. The new book at hand, which comprises both child and adolescent psychotherapy, is thus a welcome contribution to the choice of textbooks in Finnish to be used and referred to both in training and teaching. According to the contributors, it is aimed at reaching those among the general public - including parents - who are interested in the problems of children and adolescents.
The authors and other contributors to the book have taken upon themselves a demanding challenge to explain to Finnish readers what child and adolescent psychotherapy is, what its aims and tools are, and to inform the general public how we psychoanalysts conceive the development of a child and an adolescent. It thus endeavours to bridge the gap between non-professionals and professionals, and leaves the door open for discussion. Here, the central question for us is: why choose dynamic psychoanalytical psychotherapy instead of several other psychotherapies that are nowadays available for those seeking psychotherapeutic assistance? Furthermore, the authors emphasize that they have wanted to use a language where the reader can put him/herself in the position of children and adolescents and have empathy for them.
The first part of the book comprises a description of the phases of normal development from the phase of an infant onwards to adolescence. The second part of the book deals with central principles of psychotherapy and the third includes sections dealing with problems of different clinical groups and aspects of their treatment.
Christel Airas begins with the earliest phases of development of the infant, baby and toddler ages, and succeeds in describing in a touching and communicative way the importance of the early days of development, from nonverbal communication between mother and baby and other family members to the impact of the parents' mood in general on the infant