Developing containment

Abstract

This paper is a brief account of my work as consultant psychotherapist to various residential units for multiply traumatized and sexually abused adolescents. I attempt to describe the organizational structures that I have helped to put in place, and to give some description of how they have been used. I try to demonstrate how a staff group actively working on understanding themselves and their own process of relating can create a culture that encourages such children to respect this endeavour and engage in it themselves. I give some examples of how the learning in the adult group is mirrored in the children's group.

Keywords:

• Residential Units
• Sexual Abuse
• Organizational Consultancy
• Multiply Traumatized Children