She transformed a derelict ruin into a beautiful therapy centre: Londoner

How did a former a Polish asylum seeker, set up a child and adolescent psychotherapy training centre in a previously derelict ruin? Watch the transformation of The Bothy, a victorian gothic-style building, into a welcoming space, tailor-made to deliver therapy to children and their families. And meet pioneer in child and adolescent psychotherapy training, Bozena Merrick.
1000 LONDONERS
This film is part of 1000 Londoners, a ten-year digital project which aims to create a digital portrait of a city through 1000 of the people who identify themselves with it. The profile contains a 3 minute film that gives an insight into the life of the Londoner, as well as their personal photos of London and some answers to crucial questions about their views on London life. Over the course of the project we aim to reveal as many facets of the capital as possible, seeing city life from 1000 points of view.
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1000 Londoners is produced by South London based film production company and social enterprise, Chocolate Films. The filmmakers from Chocolate Films will be both producing the films and providing opportunities to young people and community groups to make their own short documentaries, which will contribute to the 1000 films. Visit www.chocolatefilms.com
TRANSCRIPT
I grew up in Poland in '85. I jumped ship and arrived here Tilbury and asked for political asylum. Then I trained as an adult psychotherapist and like many other psychotherapists, found myself working with children. That gave me an insight and I decided to create a training in child and adolescent psychotherapy.
The beginnings of therapy were challenging. I [ran] it on a homeless basis in various places in London. But I always had a vision that one day we'll have a home.
I was always aware of this sight because I lived not far from here. It is a fascinating quirky building with amazing history. It was in derelict state and was just getting worse.
After we signed the lease I didn't think that I will get all the money in one go. But hey it happened, 1 million came from Heritage Lottery Fund and another million came from Elliot Simmons Charitable Trusts. And then the work has started.
One of our therapy rooms is also an observation room, which has a double-sided mirror with an observation area behind. We have sand tray which is kind of a main play therapy tool. Our children and young people are facing challenges the previous generation didn't. We're just trying to meet that need and hopefully make a difference.
I think when we open[ed] I had this theory that some members of staff are coming here just to play because the objects were always moved and always in different places although we had no clients here.
I think the environment where you come at a time of psychological or emotional distress is important and that people feel relaxed and for those people who provide this valuable work it's kind
of honouring the type of work we do.
We have this amazing program here called a magic carpet which is an interactive floor. You can actually set the fire to the whole floor. That's my favourite. I think it should be my office this room definitely. I absolutely love it. Maybe the fire's my favourite element, it must be.
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