The communications of early infancy: Reflections of a physiotherapist on a counselling course

This paper explores some of the observed infant's similarities to and differences from the infant of psychoanalytic theory. It focuses on the author's personal experience of pre-term and full-term infants. Particular attention is given to the relationship between psychological development and physical skills and especially to the communication of the infant with its carers and vice versa. This communication is compared with that of counsellor and client. The role of the paediatric physiotherapist in the context of counselling issues is briefly considered.