The birth of the democratic South Africa opened up the possibility of meeting with fellow citizens who had previously been kept apart. Since 1995 a model of infant-parent psychotherapy has been developed resulting in a mental health service which has come to be valued within the community.
The close working together with an interpreter who also assumes the role of counsellor and mentor has been pivotal in helping to understand the world views, norms and values of the families who consult the service. It was however through the honouring of the concept of ‘universality in diversity’ that the infant and his and her care-giver could be met and helped.