An Independent Mind

'Juliet Hopkins has quietly encouraged and inspired generations of colleagues and students' (Dilys Daws).

An Independent Mind: Collected Papers of Juliet Hopkins follows the professional journey and influence of an innovative figure in the history of child psychotherapy. Juliet Hopkins spans Kleinian and Independent psychoanalytic traditions and brings a critical scientific mind to these theories. Amongst her main influences were Winnicott and Bowlby - both of whom her work addresses. This book contains her most important papers, bringing together psychoanalytic theory, family and individual approaches, attachment theory and infant-parent work. With a writing style that is clear, straightforward and readily accessible, Juliet Hopkins promotes a scholarly integrative way of thinking about psychotherapy without compromising the basic psychoanalytic principles that inform her work.

The papers have been gathered chronologically into four sections, each given context by the Editors with a brief introduction:

Trauma and child psychotherapy


Attachment and child psychotherapy


Infant-parent psychotherapy


Integrating and exploring Winnicott

An Independent Mind: Collected Papers of Juliet Hopkins is a collection of classic papers whose relevance today is undiminished. It will be essential reading for established and trainee child and adult psychotherapists and psychoanalysts; counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists interested in psychoanalytic approaches; social workers, nursery workers and those who work with children in voluntary organizations.

Daws, Foreword. Horne, Introduction. Part I: Trauma and child psychotherapy. Lanyado, Introduction. Solving the Mystery of Monsters: Steps Towards the Recovery From Trauma. Living Under the Threat of Death. The Impact of a Congenital Illness on an 8 Year Old Boy. The Role of Trauma in the Development of a Borderline State and a Foot-and-Shoe Fetish in a 6-Year-Old Girl. Part II: Attachment and Child Psychotherapy. Horne, Introduction. The Observed Infant of Attachment Theory. Failure of the Holding Relationship: Some Effects of Physical Rejection on the Child's Attachment and on His Inner Experience. Facilitating the Development of Intimacy Between Nurses and Infants in a Day Nursery. Overcoming a Child's Resistance to Late Adoption: How One New Attachment Can Facilitate Another. Part III: Infant-parent psychotherapy. Horne, Introduction. Infant Parent Psychotherapy: Selma Fraiberg's Contribution to Understanding the Past in the Present. Therapeutic Interventions in Infancy. Crying Babies: Who is Crying About What? Part IV: Integrating and exploring Winnicott. Lanyado, Introduction. The Dangers and Deprivations of Too-Good Mothering. From Baby Games to Let's Pretend: The Achievement of Playing. Narcissistic Illusions in Late Adolescence: Defensive Kleinian Retreats or Winnicottian Opportunities?