Psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapy understands emotional symptoms as expressions of inner, often unconscious conflicts. These may appear as anxiety, withdrawal, aggression, psychosomatic complaints, or difficulties at school. Within therapy, a protected space is created in which children and adolescents can freely express their feelings, thoughts, and fantasies – whether through conversation, play, or creative forms of expression.

Group analytic work offers children and adolescents a unique space of experience. Within the therapeutic group, they discover that they are not alone with their concerns and that exchange, mutual support, and a sense of belonging are possible. At the same time, they learn to deal with differences and conflicts and to try out new forms of interaction – all within a safe and containing framework.

Sometimes parents sense that their baby or toddler is hard to soothe, smiles little, cries a lot, sleeps poorly – or that closeness between them just doesn’t come as easily as they had hoped. This can be very unsettling. In such moments, it can help not to stay alone with these feelings, but to look together with a therapist at what the child might be trying to express through their behavior.

In Infant, Toddler, and Parent Psychotherapy (SKEPT), the relationship between you and your child is at the center. Even small changes in the way you are together can make a big difference: a different tone of voice, a calmer gaze, a moment of waiting – all of these can help your child feel safe and understood again.

In the sessions, you and your child are both present. Often, the focus is on “translating” the baby’s language – their looks, movements, crying, or silence. The therapist supports you in understanding these signals and responding to them. Sometimes change happens quietly – in a new moment of eye contact, a small smile, a shared moment of play.

Many parents experience through this work that they can see their child again with more joy, trust, and calm. When a child feels held, understood, and welcomed, their development can unfold freely once more – with greater curiosity, vitality, and delight in discovery.