The Children's Psychotherapy Project arose as an antidote to the revolving door of interns typically available to foster youth. It began in 1993 in San Francisco as a grassroots project dedicated to providing foster children with a consistent, stable, lasting therapeutic relationship — one that would survive changes in placements, social workers and attorneys, and internships.

Our simple formula, "One child, one therapist, for as long as it takes," captures the profound and complex compact between a therapist and patient who begin working together with the expectation that they will finish what they start even when they do not know how long the process will take or where it will lead.

We ask therapists to take one child into weekly pro bono psychotherapy until the therapy draws to a natural close. Senior clinicians conduct weekly pro bono consultation groups that offer a place for our therapists to reflect on and talk about their work.

The Children's Psychotherapy Project has grown to 15 chapters nationwide. It is the core program of the non-profit organization, A Home Within. To find out more about us and order copies of our book, Building a Home Within: Meeting the Emotional Needs of Children and Youth in Foster Care, please go to www.ahomewithin.org.

Wendy von Weiderhold, Ph.D.
Program Director
The Children's Psychotherapy Project