ABSTRACT
This chapter describes a typical setting where the child psychotherapists work and where the children may receive psychotherapy and, sets out the detail of what happens when children are referred by their schools, or by their parents, or by a doctor. The task of the child psychiatrist is to conduct diagnostic work and possibly the treatment. Children are referred to child guidance clinics for a wide variety of reasons. Two-thirds of the referrals of children to the clinic in question arose purely out of educational difficulties. These children were seen only by the educational psychologist. The main symptoms for which children are referred can be grouped in the broad categories. They are: nervous disorders, including fears, anxieties and inhibited behavior; habit disorders, such as enuresis, sleep or speech disturbances; behaviour disorders, principally meaning aggressive behavior; psychosomatic complaints; anti-social behavior; psychotic behavior; and educational difficulties.
