THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD IN PSYCHOTHERAPY

A brief history of the development of children's rights provides a con text to discuss four areas the child psychotherapist needs to safeguar d regarding these rights: informed consent; distinguishing between the child's withdrawal of consent and resistance in therapy; the distinct ion between ''difficult to treat'' and ''unsuitable for treatment'' ca ses; and empathic listening. Family dysfunction and ''managed care'' p ose further challenges to preserving children's rights in therapy. Pri nciples related to the well-being of the child in psychotherapy are of fered.