Frances Tustin

Frances Tustin (1913–1994) was a British psychotherapist and psychoanalyst who specialized in childhood autism. She was known for her pioneering work in the field of autism and child psychology, and her unique approach to treating autistic children.

Early Life and Education

Frances Tustin was born in 1913 in Darlington, England. She studied at the University of London, where she received her degree in psychology. After graduation, she trained as a teacher and worked in a school for children with learning difficulties.

Career

In the 1950s, Tustin began her training as a psychoanalyst at the Tavistock Clinic in London. She was particularly influenced by the work of Melanie Klein, a pioneer in child psychoanalysis. Tustin's work focused on the treatment of children with autism and severe learning difficulties. She developed a unique approach to therapy, which involved understanding the child's perspective and using this understanding to guide treatment.

Tustin's work was groundbreaking in the field of autism. She was one of the first to recognize that autistic behaviors were not just symptoms of a disorder, but were actually coping mechanisms used by the child to deal with overwhelming sensory experiences. This insight led to a shift in the way autism was understood and treated.

Legacy

Frances Tustin's work has had a lasting impact on the field of child psychology and autism. Her approach to therapy has been widely adopted and continues to influence the treatment of autistic children today. She has also written several books on the subject, which are considered seminal works in the field.

Publications

• Autism and Childhood Psychosis (1972)
• The Protective Shell in Children and Adults (1990)

See Also

• Psychoanalysis
• Child Psychology
• Autism

References

Frances Tustin Resources
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