A baby mouse in a tiny boat. In psychotherapy treatment can the experience of premature birth be considered significant in understanding the internal world of a child?

Sweeney, Lin (2016) A baby mouse in a tiny boat. In psychotherapy treatment can the experience of premature birth be considered significant in understanding the internal world of a child? Professional Doctorate thesis, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust / University of East London. Full text available

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Abstract

This thesis discusses the potential impact a premature birth can have on a childʼs internal world. This was explored using a single case study of a girl who was born at 25 weeks gestation. There are ten sampled individual psychotherapy sessions and one initial meeting in order to research this question using grounded theory and thematic analysis. Themes that arose from this material, in connection with infant prematurity, include babies and growing up; incubators and hospitals; psychotherapy and play; animals, insect and reptiles; and finally the importance of the beginnings, endings and holiday breaks in the psychotherapy. The implications of the possible trauma of a premature birth for both the parents and the young girl are thought about in detail. My analysis of the material indicated that this had a profound effect on Poppy and her family. The question of whether Poppyʼs memory of her premature birth and early experiences were internalized by her at birth, or whether this was projected into her by her parents, concluded that it was likely to have been a combination of these two factors

Item Type: Thesis (Professional Doctorate)
Additional Information: A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of East London in collaboration with the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust for the Professional Doctorate in Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Uncontrolled Keywords: Professional Doctorate in Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, University of East London
Subjects: Children, Young People and Developmental Pyschology > Child Psychotherapy
Children, Young People and Developmental Pyschology > Babies
Research, Tests, Assessments > Grounded Theory
Department/People: Children, Young Adult and Family Services
Research
URI: https://repository.tavistockandportman.ac.uk/id/eprint/1521

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