Developmental Evaluation of Children and Adolescents: A Psychodynamic Guide offers an in-depth, multiperspective analysis of any delays, regressions, or aberrations in a child’s developmental trajectory.

Blackman and Dring help the evaluator understand the child’s internal conflicts, as well as the family/environmental context in which the child functions. Chapters move longitudinally through the developmental stages. In each chapter, there are several "key questions" for evaluators to ask parents, fulfilling the need for clinicians to quickly assess children, followed by a longer question sheet and explanation of various answers to the questions for a more thorough assessment. Each chapter also provides a discussion of the child’s phase and a table listing the questions and answers for quick reference. Finally, brief case studies demonstrate how the developmental history and the initial session with the child should be integrated.

This book serves as an essential clinical guide to the developmental evaluation of children and will be suitable for all therapists working with children.