The development of parent-infant/child psychotherapy in South Africa: A review of the history from infancy towards maturity

Abstract

This paper takes the form of an account of the emergence of the field of psychoanalytically informed parent-infant/child psychotherapy in South Africa. It traces the origins and the development of the South African field by locating local practice within the international field. The influential links between international approaches and local practice and services are described. The historical account is based on a review of published parent-infant/child literature, including South African authored texts. Interviews with key local stakeholders and practitioners supplement the literature review. This paper endeavours to locate parent-infant/child psychotherapy more clearly on the map of mental health work in South Africa, and in so doing to promote the work as both a relevant and valuable intervention.

The development of psychoanalytic parent–infant/child psychotherapy in South Africa: Adaptive responses to contextual challenges

“…In South Africa, where the psychoanalytic political lines are less clearly drawn than they are, for example, in England (Dugmore, 2011) this may be considered a source of great creativity and part of the explanation for what appears to be a more technically eclectic practice. The theoretical and technical emphases in all settings appear to be on flexibility in terms of approach.…”

“…Although less well reported, parent-infant/child psychotherapy, as practised in South Africa, has also been described (Berg 2001, Dugmore 2009). Dugmore (2011) has mapped out an historical account of the increasing breadth of local practise in parent-infant/child psychotherapy field in South Africa. This paper offers a more in-depth discussion of current local practices and approaches based on interviews with key stakeholders and practitioners.…”

Interfacing Infant Mental Health Knowledge Systems: Reflections on the Narratives of Lay Home Visitors’ Experiences of Learning and Applying Relational Concepts of Development in a South African Intervention Program

“…Psychosocial interventions that are clinic‐ or hospital‐based have poor follow‐up rates, and interventions that take IMH and ECD services to the patient populations have been found to have more success (Dugmore, ). Home‐visiting programs were reviewed as a potentially effective early intervention for South Africa (Tomlinson, Swartz, & Landman, ).…”

The challenge to prioritise infant mental health in South Africa

“…While most countries were found to have no specific mental health services for caregivers and infants, in those that had specialist services, accessibility to these services was poor, with only 5% of recently delivered mothers gaining access (Brockington et al, 2017). South Africa has significantly limited specialist services in both the public and private health systems, and most services are offered by nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) to small portions of the population (Dugmore, 2011).…”