SILVA, C. Y. G. da. Esperança e perspectiva de futuro de adolescentes em acolhimento institucional: série de casos [Hope and future perspective of adolescents in institutional care: case series]. Doctoral Thesis – Clinical Psychology – Instituto de Psicologia. 2022.
Available on: https://doi.org/10.11606/T.47.2022.tde-06122022-171826
Abstract: The Brazilian reality shows that, when deprived of family power, adolescents under a protective measure of institutional care are less likely to be placed in a surrogate family, either through adoption, custody, or guardianship. The path, for some of them, is to remain in institutional care for long terms, or until adulthood. Adolescents inserted in this context come from situations of risk and violation of rights, therefore, they bring significant marks in their existence. This research aims to reflect on hope and on the perspective of the future of adolescents in an institutional care unit in the city of São PauloSP. Based on the material collected, it is intended to explore how hope approaches D. W. Winnicott’s theory of maturation, and whether protective aspects are present in mental health. The work is constituted as a case series study, qualitative and exploratory, with action research, carried out with four female adolescents. For the material collection, Conversation Circles were implemented with mediating objects and the application of The Thematic Drawing-and-Story Procedure. The results showed that hope is present in the adolescents, although, at times, it is less evident. The participants’ emotional experience of hope was identified in three main aspects associated with the Winnicottian psychoanalytic theory: ability to trust, elements of the true self, and future perspectives. Protective aspects in mental health were also verified, based on the maintenance of affective bonds within the reception service and the preservation of community bonds. Finally, the study aims to provide support for mental health prevention actions for this population, and guidelines for public policies of social protection in the country.