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(vi) Child Guidance Clinic.— The Senior Psychiatrist, Dr.
Helen Gillespie, reports as follows:—
Staffing.—During 1952 the number of psychiatric sessions
worked per week was nine, five of these being- devoted to the cases
referred by the Borough of Walthamstow and Chingford, and
four to the other areas, which include the Borough of Leyton
and the Forest Division. The number of sessions worked was increased
this year due to the appointment in February of Dr.
Vincenzi, who, however, resigned in December. In September
an additional Play Therapist, Miss Elizabeth Daunton, was appointed
for two sessions per week, thus bringing up to six the
total number of play therapy sessions worked.
Comments.—It will be observed that the figures for cases
closed during the year show a slight increase, corresponding to the
increased number of psychiatric sessions worked, and that the
various categories of results of treatment remain in much the
same proportion.
The waiting list has been reduced from 138 at the end ol 1951
to 70 at the end of 1952, although there has been a slight increase
in the number of cases referred. This gratifying change may be
attributed to the greater amount of psychiatric time available.
Prophylactic work with pre-school children.— This clinic has
now been running for a year, and is held on alternate Tuesday
mornings. Most of the cases are referred by the medical officers
in attendance at the Child Welfare Clinics in the Borough.
During the first year 19 children have been diagnosed and
treated, and fourteen of these have already been discharged after
satisfactory results were obtained. A further five are still under
observation or treatment. These figures confirm the wisdom of
the Authority in setting up this clinic, and the good results that can
be obtained by this form of early treatment at a pre-school stage,
as I predicted in my last annual report. 1 found this group of
mothers particularly receptive and co-operative, and this has contributed
largely to the good therapeutic results obtained with
children.
I would like to see an expansion of this side of the work, and
would welcome yet more cases. I hope that all the Child Welfare
Services in the Borough will make use of the facilities provided.
Such a clinic may offer some solution to certain of the problems in
the non-physical sphere which are so often presented to the paediatrician,
as pointed out by Dr. Hinden in his report for 1951.
The following is an analysis of the cases treated: —
Habit disorders 6
Sleep disturbances 1
Fears 5
Behaviour disorders 7