ABSTRACT
The psychotherapeutic concept of psychoanalytical short-term therapy (PaCT) reflects classical psychoanalytical treatment methods. Psychotherapists undergoing advanced training can also use PaCT if their own training analysis is sufficiently advanced and they are authorised to carry out treatment of children under regular supervision. A further prerequisite, which child psychotherapy has often tended to neglect, is that the therapist must be able to enter into mutual, triadic relationships with the family members and not just establish a relationship with the child alone. Triadic capacity should therefore be fostered in the training to become psychotherapist for children and adolescents. The therapist is much more active in psychoanalytical short-term therapy than in traditional psychoanalysis, both in terms of making verbal utterances and of observing the interactions between the therapist, child, parents, child, parents and therapist. Another goal of PaCT is to help the parents' conscious and unconscious representations of their own parental function, of the child, and the parent–child relationship become more flexible.
