Psychoanalytic infant observation is frequently used in training psychoanalytic psychotherapists and allied professionals, but increasingly its value as a research method is being recognised, particularly in understanding developmental processes in vulnerable individuals and groups. This book explores the scope of this approach and discusses its strengths and limitations from a methodological and philosophical point of view.

Infant Observation and Research uses detailed case studies to demonstrate the research potential of the infant observation method. Divided into three sections this book covers

• infant observation as part of the learning process
• how infant observation can inform understanding and influence practice
• psychoanalytic infant observation and other methodologies.

Throughout the book, Cathy Urwin, Janine Sternberg and their contributors introduce the reader to the nature and value of psychoanalytic infant observation and its range of application. This book will therefore interest a range of mental health practitioners concerned with early development and infants' emotional relationships, as well as academics and researchers in the social sciences and humanities.

From Trauma to Harming Others shows the approach of professionals from the world-renowned Portman Clinic, which specializes in work with violence, delinquency and sexual acting out. This book focuses on the intricacies of working with young people who display such worrying behaviours. Written by experienced and eminent authors, the chapters unpack central theories and open up original ideas describing a range of work with sexual offenders, compulsive pornography users and violent young people. The central theme of the book is trauma and how acting out can be understood as a way of managing the psychic pain of such trauma. The chapters are ingrained with understandings from the classical psychoanalytic traditions of the Portman and Tavistock Clinics, together with more recent thinking about trauma, rooted in neurobiological, developmentally and trauma informed theories. They emphasize the need for awareness of both the victim of trauma and the perpetrator within the same person presenting for help, while panning treatment. With insights and examples from experienced clinicians, this book will be of value to all those working with traumatized, acting out young people.

From Trauma to Harming Others shows the approach of professionals from the world-renowned Portman Clinic, which specializes in work with violence, delinquency and sexual acting out. This book focuses on the intricacies of working with young people who display such worrying behaviours. Written by experienced and eminent authors, the chapters unpack central theories and open up original ideas describing a range of work with sexual offenders, compulsive pornography users and violent young people. The central theme of the book is trauma and how acting out can be understood as a way of managing the psychic pain of such trauma. The chapters are ingrained with understandings from the classical psychoanalytic traditions of the Portman and Tavistock Clinics, together with more recent thinking about trauma, rooted in neurobiological, developmentally and trauma informed theories. They emphasize the need for awareness of both the victim of trauma and the perpetrator within the same person presenting for help, while panning treatment. With insights and examples from experienced clinicians, this book will be of value to all those working with traumatized, acting out young people.

The study of infant observation is widely used as part of training to become a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and this book addresses reasons for this. It examines whether the study of infant observation can be shown to contribute to the development of the capacities and skills that are needed for becoming a psychoanalytic psychotherapist. Considerable attention is given to examining what these might be and, from looking closely at techniques employed within a therapy session, the author creates a set of skills likely to be accepted by the community of practitioners. She also carefully delineates the views of writers and teachers of infant observation on what the study of infant observation is thought to engender in its practitioners. The author describes empirical research carried out for the book, which shows the considerable gains that the students made during their training, and it is suggested that, at least in part, this is a result of their experience of infant observation. The book concludes that infant observation greatly enhances many of the capacities and skills valued in psychotherapeutic work. This in turn raises questions about the way it is usually taught in psychotherapy training institutions.

The study of infant observation is widely used as part of training to become a psychoanalytic psychotherapist; the skills learned through infant observation can be widely applied to practicing analysis with all ages. Through the delineation of the views of writers and teachers of infant observation and her own empirical research, Janine Sternberg addresses the reasons why infant observation is a vital part of training for all analysts.