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Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Vol. 11, No. 4, 579-589 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1359104506067879

Putting Harry Potter on the Couch

Colman Noctor

Dunfillan Young Persons Unit, Dublin, Ireland, colman.noctor{at}sjog.ie

This article will explore J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter (2004) literary series from a psychoanalytical perspective. The author draws out the main themes of the Harry Potter stories to see if they can be employed clinically to assist in psychotherapeutic work with children and adolescents. The article begins by discussing Bettelheim’s (1976) extensive work on children’s fairytales and their therapeutic value, moving on to discuss Rustin and Rustin’s (2005) more recent insights into narrative therapy and children’s fiction. A clinical example is given of how the storylines were implemented to enhance a psychotherapeutic group process for adolescents. The author hopes to illustrate the power of symbolism and metaphor in the Harry Potter storylines and elucidate why these books may appeal to young people with mental health difficulties.

Key Words: adolescents • children’s literature • fairytales • Harry Potter • psychoanalysis

References

  • Bettelheim, B. (1976). The uses of enchantment: The meaning and importance of fairy tales. Harmondsworth: Penguin .
  • Brandell, J. R. (2000). Of mice and metaphors: Therapeutic storytelling with children. New York: Basic Books .
  • Freud, S. (1909/1970). Family romances. In J. Strachey (Ed.), Sigmund Freud: On sexuality (pp. 217-227). Harmondworth: Penguin .
  • Lake, S. (2003). Object relations in Harry Potter . Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry, 31(3), 509-520 .[CrossRef]
  • Noel-Smith, K. (2001). Harry Potter's oedipal issues . Psychoanalytic Studies, 3, 199-207 .[CrossRef]
  • Pahel, L. (2001, December). Harry Potter and the magic of transformation . In Proceedings of the International Conference of the American Psychoanalytical Association. North Carolina: University Press of America.
  • Phillips, R. (2004). Therapeutic Storytelling Intervention (TSI) and psychotherapy with multi-problem children, adolescents and their families . Eisteach Quarterly Journal of Psychotherapy, 4, 12-15 .
  • Rowling, J. K. (2004). Harry Potter (boxed set). London: Bloomsbury .
  • Rustin, M. E.,& Rustin, M. J. (2003a). Where is home? An essay on Phillip Pullman's Northern Lights (Volume 1 of His Dark Materials) . Journal of Child Psychotherapy, 29(1), 93-105 .[CrossRef]
  • Rustin, M. E.,& Rustin, M. J. (2003b). A new kind of friendship: An essay on Phillip Pullman's The Subtle Knife (Volume 2 of His Dark Materials) . Journal of Child Psychotherapy, 29(2), 227-241 .[CrossRef]
  • Rustin, M. E.,& Rustin, M. J. (2005). Narratives and phantasies. In A. Vetere & E. Dowling (Eds.), Narrative therapies with children and their families: A practitioner's guide to concepts and approaches (pp. 27-44). New York: Routledge .
  • White,M. (1985). Fear busting and monster taming: An approach to the fears of young children . Dulwich Centre Review, 29-34 .

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This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free
Right arrow A correction has been published
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
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Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
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Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Noctor, C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Noctor, C.
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