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Evaluation into the relationship: Reflections on new trends in evaluation, assessment, and classification
Author(s) -
Guedeney Antoine,
Lebovici Serge
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0355(199722)18:2<171::aid-imhj6>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - alliance , perspective (graphical) , psychology , countertransference , action (physics) , infant mental health , process (computing) , therapeutic relationship , association (psychology) , quantitative assessment , mental health , psychotherapist , medicine , political science , computer science , risk analysis (engineering) , law , physics , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , operating system
From a clinical and psychoanalytically informed point of view, the processof evaluation is mainly concerned with the formation of a working alliancewith the infant. Assessment is, therefore, considered as a process thatcannot be applied in a systematic way, regardless of the situation. On thecontrary, it is based upon transference and countertransference, whichguides the clinician, along with the infant's behavior and reactions,during the consultation. From this perspective, evaluation should alwayshave some therapeutic impact. Paradoxically, this therapeutic actionis linked with the suspension of diagnostic process for a period of time.The prognosis and treatment planning is mostly based upon the evaluationof change during the expended assessment period. The more serious thesituation, the longer the assessment to determine why the infant is atrisk, what are the positive aspects of the situation, and what are the waysto reach the infant through the relationship with the parents. © 1997 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health