Most children have interesting interior lives that contain dreams, fantasies, hopes, fears, beliefs and their unconscious lives. This can be inferred from their preoccupations, stories, plays, games, conversations and behaviour. Because many children with special needs are emotionally confused, anxious and angry, their inner lives often contain secrets that may be permanent and damaging. These children nevertheless put out clear signals that they want to be understood.
This book, which draws together contributions from specialists in child, adolescent and family psychiatry, child psychotherapy, social work, community psychiatric nursing, educational therapy, special needs coordination in teaching, and general practice, provides a valuable resource for those professionals in contact with young people suffering from depression.