Preface

We can say that at first glance in the works of Freud, psychoanalysis would seem to be a theory of the individual, but it is reckoned that these theoretical elaborations also contain a latent family-group dimension; in fact, even if psychoanalysis originated as a method of treatment of individuals, and Freud elaborated most of the theories in terms of "intrapsychic structures," we must not forget that it was psychoanalysis that discovered and signaled that the human being is not conceivable without the existence of others, and that those paradoxical "attempts at care" that make human beings, classified as "symptoms," have a meaning not only for the individual, but also for the relationships with others. The relational theories are therefore salient in psychoanalysis and embrace the family dimension, in continuity with that of the couple: indeed, group, family, and couple are privileged areas of relationship, of bond. The approach to the family and the couple has attracted the attention of psychoanalysts to the importance of the function of intersubjectivity in the genesis and maintenance of the structure of the psyche (and the symptoms) and has opened up new horizons, even on the most "primitive" levels of the psyche, which are expressed also in the context of family sessions. The experience with families allows us to focus on the importance of real and concrete actions within the family ties, leading to a clear evolution and openness to relationships, which allows the possibility for creating new technical conditions to deal with situations in which usually "we do not know how to do with the individual approach" (…). Also, in the *Three Essays on Sexual Theory* (1905), Freud speaks of the possible influence of the parents in the transmission of neuroses to their children [1]. We can therefore affirm that family therapy was born from psychoanalysis; it can in fact be noted that also other authors belonging to the psychoanalysis field that dealt with family relations were Bowlby [2–5] and Winnicott [6–8]. These authors observed that the symptoms of individuals are connected with relationship problems with other people, and later this assumption was also shared and supported by other psychological approaches. Recently, some theoretical developments have brought psychoanalytic thinking even closer to the attention of family therapists and vice versa [1]. It should also be pointed out that over the years, different models of psychotherapy and intervention with the family have been developed and many cannot be defined as psychoanalytic, because they have chosen to focus on different theories, greatly enriching the panorama concerning research, interventions, and therapies for intergenerational and family problems.

The therapeutic intervention approaches are varied, but in all of them it is important to remember the role of the relationship, both in the treatment and in the formation of the same disorder. Psychological care in the family environment aims to create a space in which to reflect together and have new knowledge about oneself and relationships with others, knowing is therefore understood as reflecting. One can reflect on family history, culture, genealogy, and daily interactions that contribute to influencing the person's inner scenario, the various chapters that have been presented help to reflect on many different aspects of family life, offering a very wide, rich, and detailed perspective, with specific insights. In any case, reflecting must always become an opportunity for relational transformation, because the person must be understood as a relational being. Finally, it should be pointed out that

**II**

**Section 3**

*by Silvia Renata Lordello*

People Project

Specific Topics **119**

**Chapter 7 121**

**Chapter 8 131** Group Process as a Resocialization Intervention: The Family - People Helping

Family Therapy: When the Adolescents' Discourse is the Principal Resource

*by David F. Allen, Keva Bethell, Marie Allen-Carroll and Flavia D'Alessandro*

in psychological interventions for the family, of any kind, ethics is certainly also important, which is subject to time and culture, and it consists of taking responsibility for one's own actions, reflecting on mistakes, helping the ones in trouble, improving relations, cooperating and sharing. A mixed approach, composed of different perspectives regarding family interventions, certainly offers the best chance to plan these interventions to help those in difficulty in any age group. As a matter of fact, some interesting topics are developed in this book, ranging from the concept of systemic psychotherapy and family therapy to the adoptive born, to daily life in a foster home. Other specific topics of interest are related more specifically to adolescence, childhood, and resocialization.

> **Floriana Irtelli** Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy

> > **V**

[1] Irtelli F. Contemporary Perspectives on Relational Wellness. Psychoanalysis and the Modern Family. New York:

[2] Bowlby J. Attachment and Loss. Vol. 1: Attachment. New York: Basic

[3] Bowlby J. Attachment and Loss. Vol. 2: Separation: Anxiety and Anger.

[4] Bowlby J. Attachment and Loss. Vol. 3: Loss: Sadness and Depression.

[5] Bowlby J. A Secure Base. London:

[6] Winnicott DW. The theory of the parent-infant relationship. International Journal of Psychoanalysis. 1960 Jan

[7] Winnicott DW. The Family and Individual Development. London: Tavistock; Rome: Armando, 1968; 1965

[8] Winnicott DW. The Maturational Processes and the Facilitating Environment. York: International Universities Press; 1965. Emotional Development and Environment: Studies on the Development of Affect Theory.

New York: Basic Books; 1973

New York: Basic Books; 1980

Routledge; 1988

(1):585, London

Rome: Armando; 1977

Palgrave McMillan; 2018

Books; 1969

**References**

Italian Society of Psychoanalysis of the relationship (SIPRe), Milan, Italy

#### **References**

[1] Irtelli F. Contemporary Perspectives on Relational Wellness. Psychoanalysis and the Modern Family. New York: Palgrave McMillan; 2018

[2] Bowlby J. Attachment and Loss. Vol. 1: Attachment. New York: Basic Books; 1969

[3] Bowlby J. Attachment and Loss. Vol. 2: Separation: Anxiety and Anger. New York: Basic Books; 1973

[4] Bowlby J. Attachment and Loss. Vol. 3: Loss: Sadness and Depression. New York: Basic Books; 1980

[5] Bowlby J. A Secure Base. London: Routledge; 1988

[6] Winnicott DW. The theory of the parent-infant relationship. International Journal of Psychoanalysis. 1960 Jan (1):585, London

[7] Winnicott DW. The Family and Individual Development. London: Tavistock; Rome: Armando, 1968; 1965

[8] Winnicott DW. The Maturational Processes and the Facilitating Environment. York: International Universities Press; 1965. Emotional Development and Environment: Studies on the Development of Affect Theory. Rome: Armando; 1977

**IV**

in psychological interventions for the family, of any kind, ethics is certainly also important, which is subject to time and culture, and it consists of taking responsibility for one's own actions, reflecting on mistakes, helping the ones in trouble, improving relations, cooperating and sharing. A mixed approach, composed of different perspectives regarding family interventions, certainly offers the best chance to plan these interventions to help those in difficulty in any age group. As a matter of fact, some interesting topics are developed in this book, ranging from the concept of systemic psychotherapy and family therapy to the adoptive born, to daily life in a foster home. Other specific topics of interest are related more specifically to

**Floriana Irtelli**

Milan, Italy

Milan, Italy

Catholic University of the Sacred Heart,

Italian Society of Psychoanalysis of the relationship (SIPRe),

adolescence, childhood, and resocialization.

**1**

Section 1

An Overview about Family

Therapy

### Section 1
