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24
(f) Child Guidance Clinic.—The Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr.
Helen Gillespie, reports as follows:—
Staffing.—'The appointment of Dr. C. L. Casimir to the clinic
staff in January is welcome. Dr. Casimir attended for two sessions
per week until July, and since then for five sessions per week.
Comments.—There has been an increase in the length of the
waiting list from 62 at the end of 1952 to 91 at the end of 1953
(these figures include those for Walthamstow, Leyton and Forest
Divisions).
I am glad therefore that the number of play therapy sessions
has been increased from six to eight per week. This takes some of
the psychotherapy load off the psychiatrists, who will thus be able
to devote more time to diagnostic work, and this shortens the
waiting list.
It is satisfactory to note that there has been a decrease in the
number of cases whose treatment was interrupted on the parents
initiative, a matter which caused some concern last year. In part
at least this result may be attributed to the fact that whenever
possible, preliminary interviews were arranged with the parents in
order to explain to them the purpose and mode of operation of the
clinic.
The following tables show the work of the clinic during the
year. Figures for Walthamstow cases only are shown.