Psicoanálisis de una niña pequeña

by D.W. Winnicott

D. W. Winnicott escribió unos años antes de su muerte, en 1971, este documento íntimo y fascinante sobre el tratamiento de una niña de dos años apodada The Piggle.
El presente libro está compuesto por los protocolos de dicho tratamiento, que duró poco más de tres años, y las notas y comentarios del mismo Winnicott. Para completar el panorama de su trabajo, el autor ha añadido extractos de la correspondencia que le enviaran los padres de la niña. En consecuencia, el lector tiene la rara oportunidad de contar con todos los elementos en juego en el tratamiento psicoanalítico y puede además acceder a la intimidad de la sala de sesiones para estudiar el trabajo del terapeuta y su paciente.
Uno de los principales méritos de este Psicoanálisis de una niña pequeña es que no se trata de un libro farragoso y denso sino más bien de un documento vívido de dos personas que trabajan y juegan con intensidad e inteligencia con un propósito reparador y saludable.



D. W. Winnicott wrote a few years before his death, in 1971, this intimate and fascinating document on the treatment of a two-year-old girl nicknamed The Piggle.
The present book is composed of the protocols of that treatment, which lasted just over three years, and Winnicott's own notes and comments. To complete the picture of his work, the author has added extracts from correspondence sent to him by the child's parents. Consequently, the reader has the rare opportunity to have all the elements at play in the psychoanalytic treatment and can also access the intimacy of the session room to study the work of the therapist and his patient.
One of the main merits of this Psychoanalysis of a Little Girl is that it is not a rambling and dense book but rather a vivid document of two people working and playing with intensity and intelligence for a restorative and salutary purpose.

Genres: Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Nonfiction

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Donald Woods Winnicott was an English pediatrician, psychiatrist, sociologist and psychoanalyst.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am giving this book a 3, simply because I don’t know what to make of it. It’s a description of 16 psychotherapeutic/psychoanalytic sessions of Gabrielle, nicknamed The Piggle, with the pioneering child psychiatrist Donald W. Winnicott. The sixteen sessions are spread out between 1964, when Gabrielle is 2 years old, and 1966, when she is 5 years old. Her parents, who seem to know D.W.W. personally, ask him to see their daughter, who has developed nightmares and strange anxieties since the birth of her sister Susan. D.W.W. describes each session in detail, with verbatim transcriptions of their exchanges and much attention to the minutiae of little Gabrielle’s interactions with the toys and other objects in his office. Interspersed are copies of letters from the parents to DWW and his replies. They regularly request further sessions and he accepts or postpones, depending on his schedule and his assessment of Gabrielle’s needs. At the end of the 16th session, he describes Gabrielle as a “really natural and psychiatrically normal girl of 5 years”.

Here is where the confusion comes in. When I read the interactions, I see places where DWW is simply brilliant in his understanding of how children use play and metaphor to express their feelings and fears. And then there are instances where all I can see is Freud-colored glasses. It seems that every other sentence that DWW utters must have something to do with daddies and mommies making babies. For instance, when The Piggle puts a stick through a truck window, his comment is that daddies stick something in mommies to make babies. Do 2-year olds know that? And is that what they are thinking of when, for instance, they rub two trucks together? And when they talk of snakes, why does DWW ask if it is “a big daddy thing”? I am sure that pediatric psychoanalysts will say that yes, this is what is going on in children’s unconscious during such types of play, but I just have a hard time believing it. And when I read The Piggle’s responses after such a comment, I just get the impression of a child ignoring a comment it didn’t understand. (I guess that psychoanalysts will tell me that’s resistance ?!). Anyway, all of this interpretation seems so narrow, so focused on penis envy and Freudian this and that, the stuff of New Yorker cartoons. Was this just a sign of the times? But as recently as 1993, there was an exchange in a psychiatry journal where one author claimed that The Piggle might have been sexually abused and another disagreed. The book is also sometimes referred to as a classic teaching tool about how to analyze children. But how? What is taught? DWW obligingly made notes in the margins pointing out in psychoanalytical terms what was going on, but to me it sounded just like anything might have fitted.

It will be clear that I have no psychoanalytical training and read this book feeling completely out of my depth. If any pediatric psychiatrists or therapists read my review, please feel free to comment and to let me know what contemporary professionals think about this.

[Rajat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable read. Very unique insight into the psychoanalytical process, and Winnicott's skill is very impressive. Unfortunately, Piggle's age makes it very difficult to separate the natural effect of Piggle "growing up," from the impact of the analysis itself. Winnicott himself acknowledges this, as he tells her parents about half way in, that Piggle is dealing with issues perhaps most children go through, and is "different" only in that she is more visibly expressive of the internal conflicts she faces. The maturing of Piggle's relationship with DWW and the manner in which Piggle is able to end the analysis was particularly heart warming.

[Martha Zavala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este texto es un ejemplo extraordinario de la clínica de Winnicott, es muy interesante por qué camino se llega a la clínica con niños, no es igual llegar desde el análisis de adultos o desde la consulta privada , con Winnicott es muy clara la huella que deja el trabajo clínico en instituciones, no está especialmente interesado en el análisis prolongado, le interesa cuanto es lo " menos" que necesita el paciente para poder seguir con su desarrollo por una parte y por otra parte contesta la pregunta de qué hacer cuando circunstancias materiales impiden la presencia constante del paciente, como en este caso, al vivir en otra ciudad .
Son 16 sesiones con el modelo que el nombra " sesión a pedido" para denominar una frecuencia que trata de ser a solicitud del paciente aunque en este caso también se debe a la salud y compromisos de Winnicott
Las dificultades de la pequeña son escuchadas, atendidas e interpretadas desde su modelo teórico que remite al desarrollo temprano y al complejo de edipo, además de la función del ambiente
También nos invita a preguntarnos sobre qué es un caso y que autoriza su publicación
Diría que es una lectura obligada pero leerlo es un deleite, así que solo diré que es importante para conocer a Winnicott

[Rai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terminei de lê-lo hoje de madrugada! Comecei esse livro de uma forma engraçada. Estava lendo “Bebês e suas mães”, do mesmo autor, mas parei nas últimas partes e peguei esse pra ler. Estava querendo me aventurar mesmo em acompanhar por mais tempo (um livro) como pode ser uma análise com uma pequena criança. Pra mim, ótima experiência! Pegava pra ler as páginas principalmente antes de dormir ø que me fez até mesmo sonhar com Winnicott e Piggle brincando ali no consultório, juntos. Que legal acompanhar Gabrielle experienciando estar sozinha na presença do outro. Algumas sacadas do Winnicott achei uau ein!
Enfim, me diverti e imaginei muito. Acabei me emocionando um pouco com ø final - algo sobre “preparar” ø outro pra morte. Enfim. Gostei.

“É um relato vivo sobre duas pessoas trabalhando e brincando juntas. […] Isso ocorre em doses pequenas e num contexto que se torna suficientemente seguro, graças à habilidade do terapeuta”

[Angela Phillips · Rating 1 out of 5]

I will preface this review by saying I'm a lay person with no training in psychology. With that said, my reaction to this book is that it seems to be made up nonsense. The "interpretations" of a young child's play seems subjective at best. Attributing sexual thought to a 2 year old's play seems ridiculous. Winnicot's suggestion that a large number of the child's actions had to do with simulating sexual acts or making a "long wee wee" like her father seem weird and out of place. How would a child that young even have a concept of intercourse, fellatio etc?
It seems, in my view, they took a normal child, struggling to get used to a younger sibling, attributed illness to her, let her play, interpreted the play through a Freudian lens, and then after she got bored playing with an elderly gentleman called her cured. I'm not impressed.

[Ece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bu kitapla alakali görüşlerim su sekilde:

Öncelikle, psikanaliz konusunda okuduğum ilk eser diyebilirim. Bu biraz benim deneyimsizligini ve bilgisizligimi de gösteriyor.

Kitap, psikanalist Donald Winnicott'in hastası Piggle'la kardeşi doğduktan sonra başlayan 16 görüşmeyi kapsıyor. Bu 16 görüşme sırasında Piggle 2 yaşından 5 yaşına kadar geliyor, buyuyor.

Kitabin genel olarak konusu bana hitap etti. Ancak dil ve konuşma içeriği olarak beni sasirttigini söylemeliyim. Ozellikle son görüşmelerinden birinde Winnicott'un Piggle'la direkten konuştuğu konular ve kullandigi kelimeler bebek yasinda cocuga soylenir mi bilemedim, dedigim gibi bu alanda yeniyim.

Onun disinda kizin hareketlerini de ödipus, bebek yapma, anne ve babanin cinsel yerlerine yorma kismi da dedigim gibi en iyi halde garip geldi, bazi yerlerde kitaba bakakaldim.

Onun disinda son olarak, kizin kitap boyunca büyüdüğünü gozlemleyebiliyoruz. Bu psikanalizin yararlı etkisini tam olarak ayrimsayamasak da kitap yayinlanacakken Piggle'in kendisi bunda bir problem gormedigini söylüyor.

Gunun sonunda kitabi kotu bulmadım. Alışık olmadığım bir kulvar oldugu kesindi. Inanilmaz freudyan eserler benlik mi bilemedim :)

[Sevgi Tüccar-Çelik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bu kitabı okuduysanız, mutlaka Lena Teurnell'in "An Alternative Reading of Winnicott: The Piggle—A Sexually Abused Girl?" başlıklı makalesini de okumanız gerek. Teurnell'in makalesi, Winnicott'un kitabına yönelik önemli bir eleştirel yorum getiriyor.

Piggle'ın özellikle "Black mummy" figürüyle ilgili yoğun korkuları, sürekli kendini "kötü" ya da "kara" hissetmesi, ve "babacar" gibi tekrar tekrar gündeme gelen belirsiz imgeler, Teurnell'e göre travmatik deneyimlerin dolaylı anlatımı olabilir. Özellikle Piggle'ın seanslarda yaptığı oyunlarda sık sık küçük nesneleri zorla başka nesnelerin içine sokmaya çalışması ve bedensel bütünlüğüne yönelik endişelerini sıkça dile getirmesi bu açıdan dikkate değer detaylar olarak öne çıkıyor.

Ayrıca Teurnell, Winnicott'un çocuğun anlatmaya çalıştığı travmatik deneyimi belki de kendi karşı aktarımı nedeniyle fark edemediğini ve uyguladığı seyrek, "isteğe bağlı terapi" yönteminin Piggle'ın ihtiyaç duyduğu kapsayıcı güven ortamını oluşturmakta yetersiz kaldığını ileri sürüyor.

[Jessica Sacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely engaging, enlightening and fascinating. Almost especially because it now seems dated. I highly recommend reading the book and then reading this article, based on interviews with the adult "the Piggle" became. In later life an analyst herself, she brings to light - with hindsight - huge blind spots in Winnicott's assessment of her family situation. The apparent success of his therapy is almost more remarkable, to me, when we see how much there was he (as part of his generation) didn't know or understand about the case.

http://www.cspponline.org/resources/D...

[Marco Innamorati · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Letto in italiano)
Classico della letteratura clinica psicoanalitica. Si mostra il singolare modo di lavorare di Winnicott con i bambini. Molto più ricco di interpretazioni rispetto al lavoro con gli adulti (in questo “più di un’interpretazione a seduta è una conferenza”) ma molto meno continuo rispetto alla sua maestra Melanie Klein. Winnicott non ha paura che il materiale divenga confuso; non interviene se non è strettamente necessario. E soprattutto partecipa al gioco e lo prende molto sul serio, accettando di essere “usato”. Il gioco a suo avviso deve essere giocato e goduto fino in fondo, prima che possa offrire lo spunto per l’analisi.

[Päivi Metsäniemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an interesting read! The psychoanalysis of a two-year-old is really something I have never thought about, and the way Dr Winnicott describes the interaction and play with the child is so intriguing. There are some things that were part of the psychoanalytic discourse in the sixties but feel extremely strange today! The language reminds of free association, and was particularly funny to read before going to sleep - I had very vivid and curious dreams the nights I had been reading this book. I am glad Winnicott's biography is waiting for me in the library.

[Agustina]

De los pocos autores post-freudianos que se dedicaron a niños y estudié en la facultad, Winnicott es de mis favoritos, me supone un placer gigante tener que leerlo y estudiarlo porque es muy claro en su forma de narrar. Sin embargo leer este caso me pareció por momentos insoportable, no sé si fue porque estoy HARTA de estudiar (hace semanas que no hago más que estar sentada y leyendo y haciendo resúmenes -que odio esta época del año y cursada) pero hacia el final me pareció muy lindo y pude leerlo con más ganas y facilidad.

[Mac McMillan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightfully written. It reminds me of Schreber's Memoir's in the matter of fact presentation of unreal psychic constructs. There are some really touching moments. The termination in the final few sessions is especially heartwarming. The interpretation of play by Winnicott in the first sessions is impressive. Understanding this is out of the scope, I would have liked to hear more about the parent's understanding of the case.

[Sebastian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's amazing also confusing how the interpretations are made during the session. It's not easy to understand, but that's fine to me. It's interesting to see how a child develops as the time passes by, e.g., being able to separate herself from others.

[sherlotte holmes]

(işin profesyoneli olmadığım için) Psikanaliz sürecinin analist tarafından bu kadar net aktarıldığı bir çalışma okumamıştım hiç. Sosyoloji-sosyal psikoloji aşkının peşine düşmüş biri olarak benim için enteresan bir deneyim oldu.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads kind of like an epistolary novel. I liked Gabrielle and couldn’t help but wonder if Winny was embellished some of the things she said because seems really eloquent for a 2-3 year old, which I guess makes her disturbances all the more confounding.

[Roberto Yoed · Rating 2 out of 5]

As his 'Therapeutic Consultations...', while it is easy to read and clear, there ain't any proposal nor theoretical observation.

All the interpretation and counselling seem obvious.

That aside, it is truly an achievement to make such a detailed recount of therapy.

[Nino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Очень интересная книга, но неподготовленный читатель мало что поймет. В некоторых эпизодах узнавала свои детские мысли и поступки. Достойная работа, обязательна к прочтению для профессионалов.

[Claire Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into the relationship building between young client and analyst and how transference is used within this. One to return to again and again!

[Burcu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turkce cevirisi daha iyi olabilirdi. Orijinal dilinde okunsa daha net ifadeler olabilir saniyorum. Zaman zaman anlamsiz, bire bir ceviri yapilmis gibi dusundum.

[Oliver]

I sort of hated this but in a way that's rich for thinking about.

[Aysel Amirova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing guide for parents and people who are interested in psychoanalysis. deep and important analysis of a little girl . Loved one!

[F · Rating 4 out of 5]

A curious case
A girl and her parents
Appreciation of the girl outside of the consultation room
Winnicott and play
Love/hate

[El · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read for sure. Though I can’t understand how Winicott drew all of his conclusions from what the girl was doing/saying. Then again I’m not the one with years of experience in the area.

[Javier Jiménez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Siempre me ha llamado la atención la psicología y en particular el psicoanálisis, sin embargo mientras más contacto tengo con esta especialidad más me siento confundido y sorprendido por la creatividad e ingenio que pueden tener algunos de los representantes de ciertas escuelas de la psicología.

Este libro es un ejemplo perfecto de aquellos personajes que encuentran interpretaciones impensables para muchas otras personas que ignoramos las bases del psicoanálisis. Sin embargo, creo que mucho de esto es así, en realidad pareciera que hay una total libertad y gran subjetividad en la interpretación de las acciones de los pacientes. Desde mi punto de vista, sin ser experto en el tema ni mucho menos, me parece que el mejor trabajo de un psicoanalista es acompañar al paciente en sus propios descubrimientos en lugar de intentar de encontrar representaciones y significados inexistentes, ya que siento que eso puede forzar al paciente a modificar sus pensamientos de acuerdo a las ideas del doctor sin ser esto necesariamente lo que provoca la solución a los problemas. Y volviendo al libro, me quedé con la sensación de que Winnicott no actuó de la manera más adecuada, insistiendo en que los actos de la niña se debían justamente a sus explicaciones.

Otro punto a remarcar es el simple hecho de por qué razón hay que psicoanalizar a una niña de apenas dos años? No lo entiendo, a mi me parece que a esa edad la niña no está aún totalmente desarrollada como para expresar a gran detalle sus inquietudes emocionales. O por lo menos no al detalle que Winnicott interpretaba, lo cual por cierto, según él, para variar, el 95% tenía que ver con impulsos sexuales, felación, ansiedad sexual, masturbación, etc. De la misma manera, no comprendo aún el nivel de desesperación (o loca confianza en el Dr.) que los padres pudieron tener para llevar a su hija a esa edad a psicoanalizarla.

Al final del libro, pareciera que la niña "se cura" (de qué estaba enferma?) después de 16 consultas durante más de 3 años, pero... acaso el cambio de su actitud no fue un proceso natural de maduración? La niña ya tenía 5 años, era de esperarse que no actuara igual que cuando tenía 3, no?

Por último, a pesar de existir una nota al inicio del libro en donde el traductor anticipa que hay pasajes que pueden parecer incomprensibles debido a que son las notas del doctor Winnicott, aún así la traducción no creo que sea la mejor, hay faltas de ortografía y esos pasajes incomprensibles terminan convirtiendose en gran parte del libro.

Definitivamente, no recomiendo el libro.

[Sam Schulman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great therapeutic books - which was introduced to my notice by Ethan Taubes's guardian in a NYRB review from the 70s called "A Good Doctor." The Piggle is a 26-month-old little girl, Gabrielle, who decides that she would like to be psychoanalyzed by Dr. Winnicott. She lives some distance from London, and their sessions - there are 16 of them, described individually - take place at long intervals, sometimes achingly long, and the audience wants to cry out as at a melodrama. But it all ends well. The wisdom and humanity of the doctor has its effect on the unhappiness of the child, and all is well at the end.
It's a cliffhanger, however, and unless you can finish it, you'll feel like Bertie Wooster does, so obsessed with a murder mystery he's reading that he has to steal back his copy repeatedly from other weekend guests at a house party, which has been organized precisely to demonstrate to the great Harley Street psychiatrist Sir Ronald Glossop that Bertie is not insane.
It's very nice to know that there is such comfort occasionally in this world - and sad to know that it is so rare that one has to keep re-reading this book at roughly 10-year intervals.
Only upon this re-reading did I notice that Gabrielle's mother is GERMAN! It made me have rather a crush on her. Gabrielle belongs to the same generation as my second wife, which is a sobering thought.

[Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a psuedo-transcription of Winnicott's analysis of a little girl whose nickname is the Piggle. He's one of the fathers of child psychology, and it really is amazing to watch him talk to her - he's very comfortable using (and comprehending!) the mixed-up language that she uses to express her hurt, despair and confusion. Also, since it's a case study rather than a tome of theory, you learn a lot without having to wade through a lot.

However, it's also very sad to read about a depressed little girl - even though there's nothing particularly horrible happening to her, and her parents are very concerned, she is very very sad. I had to put it down for a bit.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, the psychoanalyst D.W. Winnicott provides a highly detailed account of his "on demand" treatment" of a girl from the ages of two to five. She had been deeply disturbed by the birth of a younger sister, which resulted in delusions and nightmares. In addition to its astonishing detail, what makes the account memorable is Winnicott's empathy, insight (based on many years of experience), and imagination in his interactions with this very small child.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was curious about Winnicott after reading Are You My Mother?, so I went ahead and checked this one out. I have very little background in psychology/psychoanalysis, but I found it easy to follow and at least of some interest.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

First-person account of a very young child's therapy with renowned, pioneering child psychiatrist D.W. Winnicott. Interesting, if somewhat obscure to the layman; how you'll react probably depends largely on how receptive you are to traditionally Freudian ideas of sexuality and the unconscious.

[Eda Çeçin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben zaman zaman anlamakta biraz zorlandım bilmediğim bir kaç terim olduğu için. Aslında anlamakta zorlanmak değil de bilmediğim kelimeler olması canımı sıktı denebilir. Ama ne olursan olsun küçük Gabrielle’yi çok sevdim💗