Torben Marner

Børne- og Ungdomspsykiatri giver en grundig indføring i psykiske lidelser og udviklingsmæssige forstyrrelser fra tiden før fødslen frem til ungdomsårene. Bogen spænder vidt og behandler bl.a. spædbarnspsykiatri, hvor nye metoder til undersøgelse og behandling er under udvikling, den beskriver de psykisk syge unge, der for en kortere periode må beskyttes i et lukket afsnit, og den ser på de psykiske lidelser hos voksne, der kan have betydning for familien og samspillet med børn og unge. Der er lagt vægt på at beskrive både kontinuitet og manglende kontinuitet for psykiske lidelser fra barndom og ungdomsår til voksenalder baseret på såvel klinisk erfaring som teoretisk indsigt. Det gennemgående tema i bogen er udvikling: Hvilke ligheder og forskelle ser man mellem normal og patologisk udvikling? Børne- og ungdomspsykiatri afspejler den intense videnskabelige dialog mellem de to områder. Terminologien tager udgangspunkt i WHO ICD-10: Klassifikation og diagnostiske kriterier suppleret med spædbarns- og ungdomspsykiatriske begreber, hvor det er relevant. Redaktionen, der er sammensat af anerkendte specialister inden for deres fag, har stået i spidsen for 18 engagerede kolleger og medforfattere.

`The text is a quick and easy read, yet achieves the goal of wetting the reader's appetite to use letter writing when working with children…an excellent addition for the library of any inspiring and strengths based therapist.'-Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry`It is testament enough to Marner's belief in the impact of letters that the book itself takes the form of a series of letters to a friend and psychologist who is interested in narrative approaches and post-sessional letter writing. I will confess to having to suspend my initial scepticism about his literary device, but I was soon won over. The form of the book is very engaging and conveys a clear excitement in this therapeutic model that is at once inspiring, challenging and moving… A particular strength of this book is that family therapists of all persuasions will recognise elements of the work described. Marner's theoretical history is woven into his work, this and the conversational style in which it is presented, make the narrative ideas presented accessible. Marner succeeds therefore in inspiring and intriguing without demanding that all previous ideas be thrown away. As such I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to both experienced and recently trained therapists alike.'- Jaime Craig, Journal of Family TherapyAs a post-sessional support to children in family therapy, Torben Marner writes letters to them. In this book he explains the theory behind this practice and how he incorporates it into his use of a narrative approach to family therapy. This approach uses stories as a means of making problems more manageable.Letters to Children in Family Therapy includes the correspondence between Marner and a number of children who have presented with problems varying from nightmares to anorexia. It shows how the extra encouragement from the therapist helps the child to overcome his or her particular monster or problem externalized as a persecuting phenomenon. The book will stimulate therapists to be creative in their work with children, and provide an accessible and practical way of offering post-sessional support.