First published in 1991, Truants from Life is written by three child psychiatrists, three psychologists, two psychotherapists, a social worker, a bereavement counsellor and two specialist teachers. The result is an excellent, fascinating, authoritative and wide-ranging examination of withdrawn children at home, in school and society. It outlines – how well do we understand difficulties of such children? How can they be helped to have a more robust, adequate and mature life? This is why there are chapters on causes, assessments and treatments of withdrawal from life. Reliable and rich case histories illustrate themes where appropriate. This book will be of interest to students of psychology, mental health, and social work.
List of Contributors Introduction Ved P. Varma 1. Escape to Starvation: Eating Disorders and the Withdrawn Child Christopher Dare 2. Bullying and Withdrawn Children Michael J. Boulton and Peter K. Smith 3. A Consideration of Possible Responses to Emotional Abuse of Children by Adults Sheila Melzak 4. Bereavement and Withdrawn Children Ann Drake 5. The Psychiatric Examination of Withdrawn Children Philip Barker 6. The Psychological Assessment of Withdrawn Children David Jones 7. Attachment and Withdrawal in Children’s Friendships John Simmonds 8. Language and Communication in Withdrawn Children David Jones 9. A Withdrawn Child in the Classroom Referred to an Educational Therapist Muriel Barrett and Merkel Sender 10. The Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Withdrawn Children Francis M. J. Dale 11. Treating Withdrawn Children by the Use of Play Robin Higgins 12. Treating Withdrawn Children by the Use of Art Robin Higgins 13. Treating Withdrawn Children by the Use of Music Robin Higgins Index
Biography
Ved P. Varma
