Le competenze affettive e relazionali dell'educatore a contatto con minori vittime di abuso e di maltrattamento

The article addresses the theme of the educator's affective and relational skills in contact with minors who are victims of abuse and maltreatment. Starting from the experience of a large research project in the field of sport, a typology of abused minors' functioning levels is traced, centered on the role of acceptance or denial of affective dependence by the caregiver and educator. Attention is also paid to the educator's diagnostic skills, functional to taking charge of abused minors. Finally, the role of the educator is underlined in carrying out an adequate function of care and containment of the minor's anxieties, in order to increase his capacity to tolerate emotional pain.