Clinical commentary by Harriet Calvert, child psychotherapist at Windsor and Maidenhead CAMHS

Abstract

Cameron continued trying to get me to swear allegiance, telling me it wasn't going to be anything bad or anything I might regret -it was just a promise. Seeing that I wouldn't capitulate, Cameron let out a frustrated ''aaaaaarrrggh!'' I told him that people need to know what they're promising. He told me that I was just promising I wasn't going to be a double-agent. I said that he wanted to know I wasn't going to betray him. Cameron agreed and said I wasn't going to break any of the rules, which he would explain to me next week. As a final bid, he said that he could only tell me the rules after the acclamation -something to do with a very secret password. Seeing that this wouldn't satisfy me, Cameron became even more frustrated but we ended laughing together -''Poor, poor Cameron, Karl's very annoying,'' I said. Cameron put the pouch carefully away, saying, it was ''unrippable'' and indestructible with its sellotape lining, but then turned it over and realised it could still be ripped. Clinical commentary by Harriet Calvert, child psychotherapist at Windsor and Maidenhead CAMHS