Regulation-Focused Psychotherapy for Children (RFP-C) with Disruptive Behaviors

'This updated second edition presents Regulation-Focused Psychotherapy for Children (RFP-C), a short-term psychodynamic treatment that understands disruptive behavior as a child's way of coping with overwhelming emotions. Grounded in over a decade of research and illustrated with clinical examples, it guides clinicians step by step in helping children tolerate painful feelings rather than act them out. An essential resource for child mental health professionals at every level of training.'

Norka Malberg, PsyD, Directora, IMAGINA: Centro de Aplicaciones de la Mentalización Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy/ Psicoanalisis y Psicoterapia Children, Adolescents and Adults/ Niños, Adolescentes y Adultos Barcelona, Spain

'This important second edition of Regulation-Focused Psychotherapy for Children offers clinicians a compelling, accessible, and deeply humane way of understanding children whose disruptive behavior can overwhelm parents, teachers, and therapists alike. Rather than asking simply how we can stop a child’s difficult behavior, RFP-C asks a more powerful question: What is this behavior protecting the child from feeling?

Grounded in psychodynamic thinking and informed by contemporary understandings of emotion regulation, RFP-C shows how disruptive symptoms can function as defenses against painful and unmanageable emotional experience. The innovative RFP-C Triangle of Conflict gives clinicians a remarkably useful framework for understanding these processes—in the child, in the therapeutic relationship, and in the powerful countertransference these children can evoke.

Clear, clinically rich, and compassionate, this volume moves us beyond managing behavior to understanding the child behind it. Most importantly, it demonstrates how the depth and complexity of psychodynamic theory can be translated into a focused, evidence-based intervention. RFP-C is a distinctive and much-needed contribution to child clinical work—one that brings psychodynamic treatment firmly into the contemporary evidence-based landscape.'

Miriam Steele, Ph.D

Alfred J. and Monette C. Marrow, Professor in Psychology, NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH

'The 2nd Edition of The Manual of Regulation-Focused Psychotherapy for Children (RFP-C) with Externalizing Behaviors: A Psychodynamic Approach expands the authors’ groundbreaking psychodynamic approach to treatment for children with challenging, disruptive, behavior disorders. The Manual promotes therapist reflection and parental curiosity thereby encouraging a deep respect for the meaning of a child's behavior, placing meaning at the core of the therapy. The clarity with which the authors operationalize the technique of real-time defense interpretation focused on the experience- near flow of the play therapy session demystifies psychodynamic therapy while demonstrating its efficacy and effectiveness. Efficacy and effectiveness have also been confirmed by carefully designed research studies. Improvements made in the new edition facilitate teaching RFP-C making learning RFP-C accessible even for beginning therapists, whether they are psychiatric residents or child psychiatry fellows, teachers, social workers, or psychologists. Supported by the RFP development team's strong foundation in teaching and research, the Manual continues psychodynamic psychotherapy's long tradition of astute developmental assessment and the use of play to find meaning in work with children.'

Rachel Ritvo, MD - Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, George Washington University, AACAP Psychodynamic Faculty Initiative Leadership Team

Pamela McPherson, Professor and Program Director for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry- Louisiana State University Health Shreveport