On the Friday of the 19th Annual Conference in Valencia, the Child, Adolescent & Parents Committee sponsored the invited panel, “Clinical Experiences on Play, Zoom Room, Reclaiming & Self Disclosure,” where Roy Aldor (Israel) and Amy Joelson (USA) presented clinical vignettes, discussed by Macarena Lopez Magnasco (Chile).

Roy presented unique examples of self-disclosure with three adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In his short and rich vignettes, Roy explored the meanings of self-disclosure from a relational point of view (Benjamin, Aron and Kuchuck) and discussed how making the therapist’s subjectivity known has beneficial impact on the developing intersubjective field and promotes and facilitates the dimensionality of mental and reflective functioning.

Amy presented her work with the 8-year-old Cloe, whose treatment was forced out of the office and into the Zoom room by the Covid pandemic. The play had to stop, and both therapist and Cloe had to sustain and recreate a familiar connection on Zoom. Amy brilliantly discussed how throughout all the disruptions and obstacles, they progressively created new ways to connect, communicate and play which led to a revitalization of the play and a growth of Chloe’s personal sense of power, creativity and efficacy.

The papers were interestingly discussed from Macarena who added her clinical relational perspective, contributing to a rich presentation.

We are proud to keep an ongoing space of discussion for people working with children, adolescents and families and for people working with adults who want to learn creative ways to build the intersubjective field.

We encourage people to join our next webinar, which will take place during the spring of 2024, exploring the theme of Affect Dysregulation and Anger, with multiple presenters and discussants from all over the world.

Fabia E. Banella, Co-Chair

Fabia E. Banella, Ph.D.
Rome, Italy
Email Fabia Banella