The assessment of parental functioning: a critical process in the evaluation of children for psychoanalysis.

Because psychoanalysis of a child depends upon the parents' ability to be supportive, they must understand the need for treatment. The evaluation of a child for psychoanalysis provides an opportunity to assess the parents' understanding, an aspect of parental functioning. Once recognized, difficulties that may be obstacles to the successful initiation, conduct, and termination of a child's analysis may be addressed. In this paper, the approach to evaluation is examined, and guidelines for including work toward the amelioration of difficulties in parental functioning are suggested.