[Setting boundaries, establishing a framework].

Abstract

The framework is a fundamental aspect of care: it helps give meaning to the therapeutic process. Its contours define a supportive and secure space in which the child can continue or resume his or her development. The infant must construct his or her own sense of self; he or she does so based on the perception of his or her bodily limits, which serve as a container for the psyche and organize a body capable of relating to others and oriented in space. Setting a limit or a prohibition allows the child to encounter another-someone different from themselves-on whom they can rely and who offers them the opportunity to process frustration and reflect on loss. The caregiver is the guardian of the framework, which they must embody and adapt to the child's needs, while respecting the child's otherness.