Abstract

HAUBERT, Clarice  and  VIEIRA, André Guirland. Symbols, complexes and the construction of identity in children psychotherapy. Aletheia [online]. 2014, n.45, pp. 222-237. ISSN 1413-0394.

This study presents an account of the psychotherapeutic process of a child and his family in order to investigate the role of symbols, complexes and family conflicts in the construction of the identity of an 8-year-old boy. Data was gathered from interviews with the parents and teachers as well as from the registration of the daily sessions with the child. The analysis of the symbolic production showed that the main conflict was related to sexual identity, originated in the family history itself. From the results it is possible to conclude that to work on the symbolic expression has a therapeutic role, since it provides a better understanding of the conflicts to all, the psychotherapist, the family and the child. The participation of the family in both, the origin of the child psychological conflicts and in their resolution, was also shown as crucial.

Keywords : Sandplay; Symbolic play; Children psychotherapy; Identity; Analytical Psychology.

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