Psychoanalytically Based Treatment for Traumatized Children and Families

A psychoanalytic orientation provides an important perspective for developing community-based prevention and intervention programs for traumatized children and their families. In New Orleans, the Violence Intervention Program for Children and Families is designed to reduce the risk of exposure to violence, mental health problems following exposure, interference with normal developmental progression, academic performance, family functioning, onset of behavioral and conduct disturbances, later psychopathology, and subsequent violence. The program includes an unusual focus on work with police officers as first responders to increase their sensitivity and responsiveness to traumatized children. A psychoanalytic perspective helps a therapist or interventionist understand a person's strengths and weaknesses, frustrations, and conflicts as well as those within a chaotic environment and social situation. The psychoanalytic approach allows for more effective therapeutic approaches as well as more flexible problem-solving strategies.