Mother-child therapeutic interventions at the suggestion or the demand of a juvenile judge - Their contribution to parent-child psychotherapies

It is uncommon for a juvenile judge to suggest therapeutic help to a physic ally or sexually abusive adult and his victim during the criminal proceedin gs which will determine punishment for the offense. The authors show that i t is sometimes possible to realize therapeutic interventions in such situat ions and to establish psychotherapies for abusive mothers and their childre n by relying on the judicial structure. The psychiatrist plays a key role i n this offer of help, in the definition of a clear framework or the interve ntion and in the specification of the role of each participant. These inter ventions are delicate because of the risk of rupture linked to violence. Th ey are experienced initially as a the families. The evaluation of what is p ossible is the hey to their effectiveness. Due to their complexity, they de mand teamwork and elaboration work because of the violence of feelings whic h are elicited. The aspects linked to secret and to the place of each perso n are particularly important. The judicial calendar, during the course of t he penal procedure is particularities these psychotherapies. Four years of reflexion concerning the practice of such. interventions has brought the authors to reconsider the role and the place of the father in m other-child psychotherapies. In this respect, speaking of patent-child psyc hotherapies seems to be justified.