How child psychotherapy is used to help young people with perversions at the Portman Clinic: An explorative study

This thesis explores the treatment offered by the child and adolescent psychotherapy team at the Portman Clinic. The qualitative research study approaches this question by exploring the nature of perversions, the patient group, the treatments offered to this population, and the challenges that arise. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews with nine clinicians from the child and adolescent psychotherapy team at the Portman Clinic. A thematic analysis was employed to identify themes and the findings are discussed. The study found the way action, thinking and risk are managed at the Portman Clinic is central. The study also highlighted the paradox in working with patients on the edge of society where the clinician becomes simultaneously collusive and protective.