The Use of Digital Devices in Child Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis: A Clinical Exploration of Pros and Cons

ABSTRACT In this article, the author explores the use of electronic devices when they enter the treatment room in child and adolescent psychoanalytic therapies. Smolen demonstrates through the clinical material of two adolescent patients, how electronic devices enter the treatments in a pathological and malignant way. She continues to demonstrate through the treatments of another adolescent and a latency child how the use of devices acted as transitional objects and allowed both children to progress in their treatments, however she continues to question the optimal use of such devices in these treatments. Smolen finishes by demonstrating how a young child used the electronic device to communicate difficulties with separation and how she was able to work through these conflicts and move on to more age appropriate play. Finally, Smolen demonstrated how by prohibiting such devices and working with parents her patient was able to access his creativity and ability to play.