The Silent Child

This book arose out of the need to work with emotionally regressed non-talking children who entered hospital in full retreat from the external world. It helps parents and professionals compassionately comprehend the child's difficulties in depending on someone to receive communication.

Magagna, Jeanne

Introduction -- Introduction -- "The sound of silence" -- "Milo was a normal boy" -- Communicating without words -- Young Children -- The musings of babies: reflective thinking, emotion, and the re-integration of the good object -- A baby's "broken bridge" to the parents -- Evolving patterns of parental containment of a young child communicating through not eating or speaking -- The child who has not yet found words -- Young People -- Extended family explorations using dreams, drawings, and play when the referred child does not speak -- Inpatient care of a child who does not walk, talk, or eat -- Collaborating, containing, and inspiring confidence: physiotherapy with a child who does not talk, walk, or eat -- The silent child in school: teaching a child who does not talk, walk, or eat -- "Compelled to die": psychotherapy with a girl who does not talk, walk, or eat -- Countertransference in the psychoanalysis of a silent adolescent boy -- A journey through family therapy with a non-speaking child -- Opaque silence in groups -- Creative Activities for Non-Speaking Children -- The creative group experience -- Roar and rumpus: engaging non-speaking children through stories and songs