The importance of insight in the therapy of the hated child

Abstract

The article explores the importance of insight in the therapy of “hated children,” a term that encompasses situations in which children experience severe emotional and relational difficulties due to family environments lacking in affection, support, and protection. These children may integrate into their lifestyle a sense of personal and environmental insecurity that compromises their personal, relational, and social functioning. Therapeutic intervention aims to raise awareness of the external causes of the difficulties experienced by these young patients, promoting a supportive approach that also involves the family. Adlerian therapy emphasizes that, despite negative experiences, it is possible to become aware of and change one's lifestyle in order to improve social and relational integration.