Systemic Discipline Lead Dr Ana Draper launches new book

“Well done on such a great event! You could really feel the book come alive in the discussion, it was beautiful“

Systemic and Narrative Work with Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children: Stories of Relocation was published by Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group on 28th June 2024.

The book is co-authored by Dr Ana Draper (Clinical Lead and Consultant Systemic Psychotherapist and the Discipline Lead for systemic psychotherapy at the Tavistock and Portman), Elisa Marcellino (Clinical, Counselling and Health Psychologist) and Samantha Thomson (Specialist Systemic Psychotherapist in the NHS).

The launch on Thursday 12 September 2024 at the Tavistock and Portman was attended by over 150 people and was a free CPD event for clinical staff.

The book provides a contextualised, research-based understanding of how to enhance and support the emotional health and wellbeing of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

The panel facilitated by Sian Williams (BBC broadcaster, author and Counselling Psychologist) consisted of: Gwyn Daniels and Charlotte Burke ( Consultant Systemic Psychotherapists and trainers at the Tavistock and Portman), Issy Mehrabian (a volunteer who supports the young people interviewed in the book) and Maurice Wren (the previous Chief Executive of the Refugee Council), in addition to the book’s authors.

Lord Dubs (Baron Dubs, of Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth), Labour peer said:

“This book is essential reading for all practitioners working with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. It will also be of interest to students and trainees of social work and other mental health disciplines, as well as other professionals seeking to understand the needs of this group. Support for the mental health of child refugees is crucial. This book, written by professionals in the field, will help to raise the issue and be helpful to those working with these vulnerable children”

Ana Draper said:

“The launch is a celebration of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Sian Williams facilitator will be present to encourage and moderate conversations with a panel of different professionals and volunteers involved in the support of this cohort of vulnerable children. Two audience members will read a couple of stories from the book, to ensure the voices of children and young people are central to the launch”

More about Ana Draper

Ana is a doctor in systemic psychotherapy, and a clinical supervisor. She has worked in the field of childhood bereavement and palliative care, with asylum with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, as well as adoption and looked after children. Her current role is as outcomes lead and all systems change for Mindworks Surrey, which is a clinical alliance of which the Tavistock and Portman NHS trust is a partner. Her research has been recognised at an international level and she has presented her clinical work with children in Ecuador, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Australia, and Europe. In her work with Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children, she has developed a narrative trauma approach that is linked to her therapeutic practice. This way of working has gone on to be used across the UK and in Europe.

To learn more about Systemic Psychotherapy (M6) the UK’s longest-running systemic family therapy qualifying course, visit Systemic psychotherapy (M6) – Tavistock Training (tavistockandportman.ac.uk)