ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author considers questions such as how the role of “direct” psychotherapy with the infant and the development of transference in an infant combined with parent psychotherapy around these issues may help understand and undo the destructive employment of psychological defences in the infant patient. He presents the case of Tim. Fourteen-month-old Tim was initially referred by a paediatrician because his parents remained extremely concerned about his eating and feeding behaviour. Tim became increasingly adventurous, moving in and out of different play, sensory play forging the trust between people, solidifying the transference and out of this play to other symbolic play. His parents reported further symptoms of concern—his need to be exceptionally tidy, always replacing one pencil before taking another and always keeping all his toys tidied away in their boxes and cupboards.
