This paper provides an overview of basic Marte Meo video interaction guidance concepts and describes the therapeutic performance of the method applied in the context of early mother-infant interaction and postnatal depression. Weight is put upon the importance of the therapeutic relationship. Further Marte Meo therapy is understood in the light of Daniel Stern's theory of 'schemas of being with' and accompanied by clinical vignettes from therapy sessions. The empirical basis for the paper is a study of postnatal depression, mother-infant interaction and video guidance, carried out in Southern Norway. The study examined Marte Meo from a phenomenological perspective. Marte Meo was offered to mothers with either postnatal depression or depressive symptoms. In in-depth interviews the participants reported that the Marte Meo method, 'from the outside looking in', increased their reflections about their infants and their own mental states as well as their sensitive interaction with their newborn. Their mothering was improved and they reported feeling less depressed. We argue that Marte Meo methodology can guide new mothers with depressive symptoms, and contribute to the creation of new schemas of being together.

Caregivers at an institution for motherless infants in rural Tanzania participated in focus group interviews and participant observations. This paper aims at describing how they perceive infancy, caring and sensitivity in their everyday context. It adds knowledge from Tanzania about institutional infant care and the concept of sensitivity in caregiving, based on an approach sensitive to culture and context. The main result is that the caregivers are most concerned with fulfilling the infants’ physical needs. They defined infants’ social and emotional needs in a variety of ways and gave accounts about what sensitivity in caring for infants meant in their context. They also described their workload, their burdens and their strengths, and demonstrated shortcomings in fulfilling the infants’ social and emotional needs. Interventions to promote emotional and social support in addition to fulfilling physical needs are crucial.

Background: Sensitive and supportive interactions are keys to healthy development in the early years of life. Parents and other caregivers can promote social and emotional functioning through Marte Meo Counselling. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate whether Marte Meo Counselling was applicable in an African institutional context. Method: We chose a qualitative research design, using participant observation and focus group interviews with caregivers before, right after and one year after Marte Meo Counselling. Findings: The main finding is that the caregivers are more aware of the various infants' cues. They describe new practices in their daily work as well as a change in their attitudes and behaviours towards the infants. Conclusion: We found that Marte Meo Counselling facilitated social and emotional development for the institutionalised infants, and thus it is applicable in this African context. Implications for Practice: Caregivers of vulnerable infants should be offered Marte Meo Counselling or similar methods focusing on enhancing emotional and social development.