The taboo of love for children in care: its emergence through the transference relationship and in the system around the child

This paper explores the taboo of love for children in care. A taboo is a social custom setting a thing apart, prohibiting association with a person, place, or thing (Oxford English Dictionary 2012). Love can become a taboo for children in care, something that they unconsciously forbid themselves fro...

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Main Author: Angela Evans
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: CELCIS 2019-04-01
Series:Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care
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author Angela Evans
author_facet Angela Evans
author_sort Angela Evans
collection DOAJ
description This paper explores the taboo of love for children in care. A taboo is a social custom setting a thing apart, prohibiting association with a person, place, or thing (Oxford English Dictionary 2012). Love can become a taboo for children in care, something that they unconsciously forbid themselves from experiencing due to fears of further loss and pain. It can also become a taboo for many adults working with traumatised young people. The author, a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, presents her work with individual children and with the network of adults around them. She proposes that love is not a central theme in the care system, despite its direct relevance to children who have not experienced adequate love in crucial developmental months and years. The implication of this proposition is that unloved children are at risk of remaining unloved within the care system. The application of this to professional practice is immense. The author calls for more support for professionals to perform their vital work in promoting a loving approach in the system.
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series Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care
spelling doaj-art-cc650ef5a7d84091bb9d7aeb66b62ec22024-12-09T14:25:50ZengCELCISScottish Journal of Residential Child Care2976-93532019-04-0118172810.17868/strath.00084408The taboo of love for children in care: its emergence through the transference relationship and in the system around the childAngela EvansThis paper explores the taboo of love for children in care. A taboo is a social custom setting a thing apart, prohibiting association with a person, place, or thing (Oxford English Dictionary 2012). Love can become a taboo for children in care, something that they unconsciously forbid themselves from experiencing due to fears of further loss and pain. It can also become a taboo for many adults working with traumatised young people. The author, a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, presents her work with individual children and with the network of adults around them. She proposes that love is not a central theme in the care system, despite its direct relevance to children who have not experienced adequate love in crucial developmental months and years. The implication of this proposition is that unloved children are at risk of remaining unloved within the care system. The application of this to professional practice is immense. The author calls for more support for professionals to perform their vital work in promoting a loving approach in the system.lovecarefearlosscontainmentidealisationdevelopmental trauma
spellingShingle Angela Evans
The taboo of love for children in care: its emergence through the transference relationship and in the system around the child
Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care
love
care
fear
loss
containment
idealisation
developmental trauma
title The taboo of love for children in care: its emergence through the transference relationship and in the system around the child
title_full The taboo of love for children in care: its emergence through the transference relationship and in the system around the child
title_fullStr The taboo of love for children in care: its emergence through the transference relationship and in the system around the child
title_full_unstemmed The taboo of love for children in care: its emergence through the transference relationship and in the system around the child
title_short The taboo of love for children in care: its emergence through the transference relationship and in the system around the child
title_sort taboo of love for children in care its emergence through the transference relationship and in the system around the child
topic love
care
fear
loss
containment
idealisation
developmental trauma
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