ABSTRACT
Too often issues of race, culture and ethnicity are seen as relevant only to black and ethnic minority psychotherapists and clients. Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy (ICAP) was set up in 1997 in order to meet the hugely unmet needs of the Irish population in London, and has grown to encompass other areas with a second centre set up in Birmingham. In ICAP a number of our clients come with a history of abuse: physical, sexual, institutional and emotional. Many of the survivors have set up and joined support groups, and are involved in commencing action for compensation and recognition. Due to funding received from the Irish Government, ICAP is able to offer open ended therapy and works creatively in order to hold and contain people until the therapy space is safe enough to enter. This can take a long time and whilst boundaries are kept, the therapeutic framework needs to be creative.
