Delion, Pierre

Psychoanalysis, Autism and Institution - 2012.


11

Psychoanalysis has helped to better understand the psychopathology of autistic children and also to support their development as subjects. But this journey would not be possible without both a meeting with the institutions at some point and a return to the concept of body image. To help understand institutional dynamics, the author refers to three functions: phoric, semaphoric and metaphoric. The transference constellation represents a model of how these functions work together. The author also refers to Genevieve Haag’s Grid, as an organizational matrix that helps to tailor the therapeutic treatment specifically to individual needs.