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This paper sets out how the Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) model, which originated in the homelessness sector, can be applied to the complex medical environments of Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care (P/NICU). Whilst there are key differences between NICUs and PICUs, there exist so many commonalities, most notably the similarity of parent and staff experiences and the coexisting medical, psychological and developmental needs of babies and children. PIE provides a whole systems approach to improving psychological wellbeing in all those in the environment: babies, children, parents, families and staff. The paper explores how PIE methodology could be applied to P/NICUs; offering examples grounded in practice; and describing how PIE can meet the fundamental needs of babies and children, parents and staff and has the potential to prevent the challenging environment having a negative impact on those who are exposed to it.

The cross-racial therapy narratives of 35 BAME* young adults were analysed, to provide guidance for White therapists. Most participants preferred a BAME therapist over a White therapist, and felt better understood by a therapist of shared ethnic-background. Implications for therapists are discussed.

A service user and carer involvement project was developed for clinical psychology trainees. The trainees were paired with a service user or carer colleague and each pair met monthly for a year. In this article four of the trainees discuss their experiences.

Summary Paediatric intensive care has a significant impact on the children and families who experience it. This effect continues post-discharge as the family attempt to recover from their ordeal. This article begins with an exploration of what makes a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) admission potentially so traumatising and then examines current models for recovery which exist in the literature. These remain sparse and do not provide a coherent model for recovery after PICU. This paper therefore presents research which aimed to develop a model to understand the recovery journey for families. Children who had been PICU patients and their parents were interviewed and the transcripts analysed using grounded theory. Participants highlighted the importance of physical, psychological and social recovery and these have been integrated into a biopsychosocial model of recovery. Finding and accepting a ‘new normal’ were the culmination of this biopsychosocial journey. This paper concludes that an integrated approach to recovery is necessary and makes some recommendations for further research and clinical practice. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.