The Tavistock marks 105 years

The Tavistock Clinic opened its doors on 27 September 1920. Its very first patient? ‘A child’. 

This detail matters. At the time, mental health services were often reserved for adults, and usually in hospitals and asylums that felt clinical and intimidating. The Tavistock set out to be different. Founded by Dr Hugh Crichton-Miller after the First World War, the Clinic offered talking therapies in an out-patient setting – no beds, no white coats, and a focus on people’s lived experience. 

From day one, children were included. That first child patient symbolised a commitment to supporting families and young people that remains at the heart of our work. The Clinic established a Children’s Department from the outset. 

We don’t know the identity of that first young patient – confidentiality has always been part of good practice – but their place in our story is clear. They were not just the first through the door; they embodied the forward-looking approach that has shaped the Tavistock for over a century. 

Since that moment, the Tavistock and Portman has pioneered child psychotherapy, attachment theory, and systemic family work, always keeping children’s needs in focus.

Today, we continue to build on that legacy, listening carefully to every child, young person, and family who comes to us. 

The Tavistock and Portman continue to develop innovative services for children and adults, including: 

• Gloucester House: A special therapeutic primary school with an integrated clinical team for children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties, blending education, therapy and nursing 
• Whole Family Services (including perinatal): Psychological therapy and support during pregnancy, and early years support up to age 5 
• Autism Assessment: For children and young people with developmental disorders 
• Watch Me Play! (an early intervention programme for babies/young children in care) to strengthen caregiver relationships, now applied in other countries 
• i-THRIVE Programme: A national system-change model (developed with Tavistock and Portman, and the Anna Freud Centre) that replaces tiers in CAMHS with a needs-based framework, supporting shared decision-making, integration across services, and shorter waits 
• Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC): Rather than a standard court process, this is more of a therapeutic, supportive court process aiming to keep families together where possible by tackling substance misuse 
• Trauma Service: Expertise in dealing with after-effects of trauma 

We are also heavily involved in the education and training of tomorrow’s clinicians. Our educational offer is unique in combining academic rigour with clinical practice, where students are taught by practising clinicians and learn through real-world therapeutic and organisational settings.  

Our first patient was a child. More than a century later, children remain at the heart of what we do and will remain so as we move forward in our merger by acquisition with North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) which will significantly enhance and strengthen children and adult mental health services across north London. 

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