cadre contenant

English translation: holding environment

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:cadre contenant
English translation:holding environment
Entered by: Laura Nagle (X)

22:43 Nov 15, 2012
French to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Psychology
French term or phrase: cadre contenant
The context is a report on the physical and emotional challenges of young children being treated for malnutrition, who may also be victims of neglect or other forms of abuse:

Souffrance psychique également pouvant aller jusqu'à la dépression ou l'hospitalisme, quand la mère ou son substitut est peu disponible ou absente psychiquement, quand ses pleurs ne reçoivent pas de réponse, quand son environnement ne lui offre pas de cadre contenant. L'empathie jouera alors pleinement son rôle afin d’éprouver puis de travailler avec la famille ce que vit ce bébé, et de pouvoir lui apporter des réponses appropriées.
Laura Nagle (X)
United States
Local time: 03:27
holding environment
Explanation:
I believe "cadre contenant" is related to Bion's notion of containment and Winnicott's "holding environment.

For example, see the following presentation: http://socialcareireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Re-em...

Here's the American Psychiatric Glossary definition of "holding environment," from http://www.webref.org/psychology/h/holding_environment.htm :

"A responsive, nurturing milieu for the developing child, including physical holding as well as the mother's or primary caregiver's preoccupation with the child and her ability to soothe, comfort, and reduce the tension in her infant. Ideally, the mother reflects back the child's worth and value and in other ways responds appropriately to his or her needs. Lack of such responsivity is often termed empathic failure. In the psychotherapeutic (see psychotherapy) relationship, holding environment refers to a therapeutic ambiance or setting that permits the patient to experience safety, thereby facilitating psychotherapeutic work."

Here are some additional examples of the term in use: https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q="holding environment"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2012-11-16 08:33:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Just to clarify, "holding environment" is a technical term that characterizes many different aspects of the mother's or primary caregiver's care for and relation to a child. It is in no way limited to any physical act but instead describes "a responsive, nurturing milieu," as stated in the definition above. It also is used to describe the therapeutic or treatment setting.

As discussed in the PPT to which I linked, the term "holding environment" includes the notions of shelter, containment, and predictability. For example, slide 8 of that presentation reads:
"The notion of holding is central to effective care giving relationships
Holding environments:
• Create reliably safe boundaries
• Offer a protective space
• Enable children to experience themselves as valued and secure
• Is [sic] associated with a secure base (Kahn, 2005)"

Now, the term "cadre contenant" is also a technical term that refers both to the nature of the relationship between a mother or a primary caregiver and a child AND the therapeutic or treatment setting:

For the therapeutic setting (scroll to section D): http://apijb.pagesperso-orange.fr/Assises/07.html
It is also used to describe other environments or milieux, such as classrooms: http://www.aepi-formation-pedopsychiatrie.fr/Une-experience-... (see the section "Fonctionnement du groupe rééducatif")

And for the mother-child relation, here is one summary of the basis of the term "holding" in Winnicott that refers to the notion of contenance, from http://dcalin.fr/publications/fonction_contenante.html#1.a :
"Winnicott : le holding et le regard

Lorsque la mère contient l’enfant physiquement, par les soins corporels qu’elle lui donne, par sa proximité, ses caresses, par sa manière de le porter, elle délimite ainsi le corps de l’enfant, et lui permet de ressentir et d’intégrer les limites externes de son propre corps. De la même manière, sur le plan psychique, par une adaptation optimale de la mère au petit enfant et à ses besoins, par sa disponibilité, sa capacité d’apaisement, d’écoute et de retran­smission, elle permet à l’enfant de se sentir progressivement comme un ensemble d’éléments cohérents et contenus, et d’élaborer ainsi un moi. Un monde interne personnel, lui aussi contenant, peut être construit. Une peau psychique émerge ainsi, comparable à l’enveloppe corporelle."


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2012-11-16 10:27:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Another thought:

If the translator is concerned that "holding environment" sounds too technical, it would be possible to add an additional adjective, as follows:

Proposed translation:

Psychical suffering also can lead to depression or even to hospitalism when the mother or other caregiver is unresponsive or psychologically absent, when the child's crying goes unheard, or when the child's surroundings do not provide a nurturing, holding environment.
Selected response from:

John Holland
France
Local time: 09:27
Grading comment
Thank you for all of the references!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1holding environment
John Holland
3 +2supportive framework
B D Finch
4sheltered setting
veridiom
4predictable environment
cc in nyc
3restraining force
David Hollywood
3sense of containment/being contained
Melissa McMahon


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
restraining force


Explanation:
or "containing"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 mins (2012-11-15 22:48:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

when the child's environment/surroundings does/do not act as a restraining force

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2012-11-15 22:51:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

contenir (v.)
1.avoir en soi, comprendre dans son étendue, sa capacité, sa substance.

2.avoir, être constitué d'un certain nombre d'éléments.

3.renfermer, comporter (qqch d'abstrait) (ex. Cet ouvrage contient des idées subversives).

4.retenir dans certaines limites.

meaning 4 in your context if I understand things correctly but I would wait and see what others have to say ...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2012-11-15 22:52:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

www.a2zpsychology.com/.../kurt_lewin's_chang...En caché - Similares - Traducir esta página
Haz hecho público que te gusta. Deshacer
Unfortunately restraining forces were harder to get at because they were often personal psychological defenses or group norms embedded in the organizational ...
Prof M Sutherland Supervisor upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/.../etd-03272010-172901/En caché - Traducir esta página
Haz hecho público que te gusta. Deshacer
Kurt Lewin's Force Field Analysis model was utilised to identify the driving and restraining forces. This enabled categorisation into contractual and psychological ...


David Hollywood
Local time: 04:27
Native speaker of: English
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
sheltered setting


Explanation:
In this context, I see "contenant" as relating to the protective aspect of the environment the child is in.

veridiom
United States
Local time: 03:27
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  cc in nyc: I think "sheltered setting" may be going to far; the term is often used for physically or emotionally challenged individuals.
7 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

50 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
sense of containment/being contained


Explanation:
The idea is an atmosphere that "holds" you, offers reassuring boundaries: it can apply to the home atmosphere, the therapeutic relationship, adult relationships (cf. http://un.educ.en.itep.free.fr/regles et jeu de loil.html).

Seems to be a psychoanalytic concept going back to the 60s - specifically to Winnicott and Bion (http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/9617), but is used in more general sense (cf. http://www.myshrink.com/counseling-theory.php?t_id=32).


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2012-11-16 01:05:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Combining with John's response, perhaps "containing environment", cf. "The key elements of milieu therapy are discussed: maintenance of a safe and containing environment, a highly structured programme, physical and emotional support, collective involvement of the child, family and staff...", http://tinyurl.com/bunhaku

Melissa McMahon
Australia
Local time: 17:27
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 16
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
predictable environment


Explanation:
That's what it sounds like to me.

L’accés de l’adolescent à l’autonomie requiert également un cadre contenant et sécurisant avec des limites et des régles communes à respecter.
http://pedagogie.ac-toulouse.fr/col-bitche-albi/spip.php?art...

- Contenant
L’impossibilité pour nombres d’enfants accueillis en ITEP d’anticiper, de prévoir, d’attendre les choses, les insécurisent, les dispersent, les déconcentrent, les maintiennent dans leurs difficultés à appréhender le monde qui les entoure
Un cadre alors comme une bordure, une armature (momentanée), à même de protéger ces enfants des autres et d’eux-mêmes face à leur angoisses, leurs instabilités, leurs crises, leurs tristesses…
Un cadre contenant en message d’aide…

http://un.educ.en.itep.free.fr/regles et jeu de loil.html


cc in nyc
Local time: 03:27
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

54 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
holding environment


Explanation:
I believe "cadre contenant" is related to Bion's notion of containment and Winnicott's "holding environment.

For example, see the following presentation: http://socialcareireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Re-em...

Here's the American Psychiatric Glossary definition of "holding environment," from http://www.webref.org/psychology/h/holding_environment.htm :

"A responsive, nurturing milieu for the developing child, including physical holding as well as the mother's or primary caregiver's preoccupation with the child and her ability to soothe, comfort, and reduce the tension in her infant. Ideally, the mother reflects back the child's worth and value and in other ways responds appropriately to his or her needs. Lack of such responsivity is often termed empathic failure. In the psychotherapeutic (see psychotherapy) relationship, holding environment refers to a therapeutic ambiance or setting that permits the patient to experience safety, thereby facilitating psychotherapeutic work."

Here are some additional examples of the term in use: https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q="holding environment"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2012-11-16 08:33:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Just to clarify, "holding environment" is a technical term that characterizes many different aspects of the mother's or primary caregiver's care for and relation to a child. It is in no way limited to any physical act but instead describes "a responsive, nurturing milieu," as stated in the definition above. It also is used to describe the therapeutic or treatment setting.

As discussed in the PPT to which I linked, the term "holding environment" includes the notions of shelter, containment, and predictability. For example, slide 8 of that presentation reads:
"The notion of holding is central to effective care giving relationships
Holding environments:
• Create reliably safe boundaries
• Offer a protective space
• Enable children to experience themselves as valued and secure
• Is [sic] associated with a secure base (Kahn, 2005)"

Now, the term "cadre contenant" is also a technical term that refers both to the nature of the relationship between a mother or a primary caregiver and a child AND the therapeutic or treatment setting:

For the therapeutic setting (scroll to section D): http://apijb.pagesperso-orange.fr/Assises/07.html
It is also used to describe other environments or milieux, such as classrooms: http://www.aepi-formation-pedopsychiatrie.fr/Une-experience-... (see the section "Fonctionnement du groupe rééducatif")

And for the mother-child relation, here is one summary of the basis of the term "holding" in Winnicott that refers to the notion of contenance, from http://dcalin.fr/publications/fonction_contenante.html#1.a :
"Winnicott : le holding et le regard

Lorsque la mère contient l’enfant physiquement, par les soins corporels qu’elle lui donne, par sa proximité, ses caresses, par sa manière de le porter, elle délimite ainsi le corps de l’enfant, et lui permet de ressentir et d’intégrer les limites externes de son propre corps. De la même manière, sur le plan psychique, par une adaptation optimale de la mère au petit enfant et à ses besoins, par sa disponibilité, sa capacité d’apaisement, d’écoute et de retran­smission, elle permet à l’enfant de se sentir progressivement comme un ensemble d’éléments cohérents et contenus, et d’élaborer ainsi un moi. Un monde interne personnel, lui aussi contenant, peut être construit. Une peau psychique émerge ainsi, comparable à l’enveloppe corporelle."


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2012-11-16 10:27:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Another thought:

If the translator is concerned that "holding environment" sounds too technical, it would be possible to add an additional adjective, as follows:

Proposed translation:

Psychical suffering also can lead to depression or even to hospitalism when the mother or other caregiver is unresponsive or psychologically absent, when the child's crying goes unheard, or when the child's surroundings do not provide a nurturing, holding environment.


John Holland
France
Local time: 09:27
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 28
Grading comment
Thank you for all of the references!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  cc in nyc: Any sources to back up your belief that Asker's text refers to physical holding? // Thank you for the new sources. Now I'm torn between your answer and mine, and don't think there's enough context to decide which is right here. To the asker! :-| WTH
8 hrs
  -> See the note I've added. "Holding environment" does not refer only to "physical holding"
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
supportive framework


Explanation:
Joan Riley Driscoll, Tufts University. Child Development - 2008
"For example, mothers with clinical levels of depressive symptoms were more ... to be competent at providing a supportive framework for their toddlers (structuring ..."
books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=0549521860


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2012-11-16 11:41:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

www.filoitoupediou.gr/EN/index1.asp?what=drast
"... and absence of a supportive framework as in a family structure. The above factors place pressure on the role of the mother and subsequently degrade it."

www.biomedsearch.com/article/My-memory.../121210851.html
"They found that when the American mothers shared memories with their children, they provided a supportive framework for the child's active participation."

B D Finch
France
Local time: 09:27
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 15

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard
4 hrs
  -> Thanks Phil

agree  Verginia Ophof
6 hrs
  -> Thanks Verginia
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search