The parent, baby and toddler therapeutic playgroup for refugees and asylum seekers: providing a clinical service, training and research opportunities

The parent, baby and toddler playgroup for asylum seekers and refugees is a psychoanalytic therapeutic service that offers training and research opportunities in South London. This paper describes establishing and running the therapeutic playgroup. The psychoanalytic theoretical underpinnings of the model are described, as well as the adaptations necessary for families that have experienced displacement, loss and trauma. The therapeutic interventions are illustrated by a longitudinal case. The outcome measures and research are described briefly, as well as the observation and training opportunity for professionals. A reflection on working in the group, on writing observations and thinking about them in supervision illustrates the learning and specialist training.