South African psychologists learn child assessment and intervention principles, integrating psychodynamic and evidence-based approaches.
Working therapeutically with children calls for flexibility, curiosity and a sound grasp of development and current evidence. This integrative course guides South African clinicians through key principles of child assessment and intervention, drawing on psychodynamic theory and contemporary research. It explores the meaning of symptoms, defence mechanisms, neurodiversity and autism spectrum presentations, as well as the clinical management of aggression. The role of parental engagement and the therapeutic alliance is also covered. The course is accredited by the HPCSA for CPD points.
Working therapeutically with children requires flexibility, curiosity, and a deep understanding of both developmental processes and emerging evidence-based practices. In this informative and integrative CPD session, participants are guided through essential principles of child psychological assessment and intervention, with a focus on clinical relevance across diverse presentations.
Drawing from both psychodynamic theory and contemporary evidence-based research, this talk supports clinicians in exploring the underlying meaning of symptoms, including the role of defence mechanisms, neurodiversity, and autism spectrum presentations. It also addresses the clinical management of aggression in children, and the vital role of parental engagement and the therapeutic alliance in effective child psychotherapy.
This course encourages practitioners to move beyond rigid theoretical silos and to appreciate the richness that interdisciplinary and multi-paradigm approaches can bring to child mental health work
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:
Identify key principles of child assessment and intervention across developmental stages.
Describe the influence of psychodynamic and contemporary research-informed approaches in child therapy.
Explore how to understand and respond to a child’s symptoms through meaning-making and defence mechanisms.
Work collaboratively with parents as part of the therapeutic process.
Recognise the importance of theoretical flexibility in understanding complex child presentations, including autism and neurodiversity.
Parent Alienation Part 1. Defining the Problem