Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP): Offering safe passage to healing and connection for unaccompanied minors, young asylum seekers and refugees

The DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy) approach was originally created as a therapy for children and young people who are adopted or in the care system and has grown into a therapeutic practice model which is widely employed across diverse services. DDP can be effectively adapted and stretched to help us make therapeutic connections with unaccompanied minors, young asylum seekers and refugees who are parentless. Deepening our awareness of our own positionality and intersectional identity as practitioners within systems which have a high potential for oppressive and discriminatory practice is explored. Key themes and recommendations for those practitioners wishing to bring a DDP approach to this area of their practice are proposed.