ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses an example of one structure–the parents' meeting–to look more specifically at different ways the space for enquiry is maintained and the obstacles faced by both staff and patients in the joint endeavour. It draws upon a theory of the psychology of social systems which embraces the individual, the group, and the institution to explore the complex interplay of person and setting in the parents' meeting. The primary task of the parents' meeting, as defined by staff leading the group, is to allow patients a reflective space for exploration of issues concerned with their children. The membership of the parents' group is open to all patients on the Families Unit, but it is voluntary. The individual's own unconscious internal world impinges on the interpersonal relations in the group. However, the unconscious roles taken up by different individuals are much more varied.
