Illusion, symbol, imagination [Illusione, simbolo e immaginazione]

D.W.Winnicott and other authors have theorized the importance of illusion, symbol and imagination for childhood normal development and the evolutionary processes occurring during a psychoanalysis. Our aim is to illustrate the intervention we have proposed for a child with a diagnosis of generalized developmental disorder. We want to underline the importance for the psychotherapist to develop a good observation capacity and the ability to take in and understand patient's communications. These therapeutic functions may help the patient in finding and creating new meanings and let him/her discover and trace a history through the sharing of illusion, symbol and imagination.