Adolescent mothers frequently experience problems in mother-infant interaction. However, intervention can be very difficult, particularly when complicated by unresolved conflicts involving relationships in the young woman's past. This article describes a therapeutic intervention, based on the work of Fraiberg, which allows the young mother to learn to interpret her infant's cues while also encouraging her to express her own emotions in the context of the mother-infant relationship. Two case studies are discussed to illustrate the use of the technique as part of a program of mother-infant intervention. RESUME: Les meres adolescentes connaissent souvent des problkmes dans l'interaction mbre-nourrisson.
Cependant, I'intervention peut ttre trks difficle, surtout lorsqu'elle est compliquk par des conflits non resolus impliquant des relations appartenant au passt de la jeune femme. Cet article dkcrit une intervention thtrapeutique, basee sur le travail de Fraiberg (1975), qui permet B la jeune mbre d'apprendre B interprtter les signaux de son enfant tout en l'encourageant aussi B exprimer ses propres emotions dans le contexte de la relation mkre-nourrisson. Dew etudes de cas sont examinks pour illustrer l'utilisation de cette technique comme partie integrante d'un programme d'intervention mtre-nourrisson.
RESUMEN: Las madres adolescentes con frecuencia experimentan problemas en la interaccibn madreinfante. Sin embargo, la intervencion puede ser muy dificil, particularmente cuando se complica debido a conflictos no resueltos que envuelven relaciones en el pasado de la joven madre. Este articulo describe una intervencion teraptutica, basada en el trabajo de Fraiberg (1975), el cual permite a la joven madre aprender a interpretar las sefiales de su infante y al mismo tiempo la anima a expresar sus propias emociones en el context0 de la relacion madre-infante. Se discuten dos casos para ilustrar el us0 de la tecnica como parte de un programa de intervencih madre-infante. This project was supported by a grant from the Institute of Mental Hygiene, New Orleans. Appreciation is expressed to Dr. William Easson, Sarah Wewers, and JoAnn Neumann for comments and suggestions on an earlier version of this paper. We also appreciate the assistance of Jacqueline C. Smothers in helping to develop the technique. Special thanks is given to the National Council of Negro Women of Greater New Orleans for their cooperation with this project.