Citation

Briggs A. J. Child Psychother. 2005; 31(3): 352.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00754170500370746

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The role of a child psychotherapist's gender is not often considered in terms of treatment outcome. This paper discusses how aspects of being a male child psychotherapist influenced the successful treatment of a very young boy with Asperger's Syndrome. The paper highlights how the nature of his very early relationship with his mother and the absence of his father were the basis of his difficulties resulting in that diagnosis. It shows that his desire to seize the opportunity of working with a male enabled him to understand his feelings about his father, why it was so difficult to want to be with him and not his mother, and why he could not be without her.