Dr. Sheila Zaretsky, psychoanalyst, will discuss her work with two children whose totally shut down behavior had driven their parents and teachers to despair. Sandra, age two and a half, refused to eat, play, or talk, and Donald, age twelve, had been learning disabled and a school failure his entire life. Dr. Zaretsky will describe how innovative approaches for adults to follow the child's lead in communication and action, transform defenses into coping skills, and learning to be comfortable without answers can act as a positive change agent in a child's life.
