ABSTRACT
Measures involving psychoanalytic social work are as a rule funded by local authorities, specifically children and young people’s services or social services. Cooperation can fail if there is fundamental rejection of psychoanalytically orientated work or if, from the start, commitments have been made to other approaches to understanding cases and taking action in this field. The situation makes heavy demands on psychoanalytic social workers. Alongside showing professionalism in their work they have to be able to describe complex relationship dynamics, a transference/countertransference pattern, and inner conflicts and, moreover, do so in terms that non-specialists can understand. A report is only helpful if the person receiving it really has a chance to visualise and understand the results of the work process so far and be able to examine it critically. Working with examples can illustrate what inner problems prevent the family from accepting help.
