ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the application of Intersubjective Self Psychology (ISP) to the treatment of children is discussed. After a brief introduction, there is a review of child development from an Intersubjective and Self Psychological perspective, highlighting the importance of the intersubjective field. In addition, there is an elaboration of the dynamics of the leading and trailing edges of experience as they are manifested in healthy childhood development and pathology. This is followed by a brief overview of child therapy from an ISP perspective, and then how ISP enriches our understanding of what is happening between child, parent, and therapist. Also discussed is the way in which the therapist works with both the trailing and leading edges of experience in the parents and child, and within themselves. The chapter includes clinical case illustrations of the ideas presented.
