The Boa constrictor or the hat: a dilemma for child therapists

The child therapist must satisfy two prerequisites for successful treatment. These conditions are: 1) a positive alliance with the parents; 2) an understanding of the child's world. At times, the demands imposed on the therapist via these conditions conflict. Empathy, for either child or parent, may become blocked. This paper will explore the vicissitudes of conflicting identifications within the child therapist. Possible resolution of this conflict via simultaneous empathy will be discussed.