The author describes the impact of political thought on the theory and practice of child psychotherapy in Russia since the 1920s. Until the 1930s the development was similar to that in Europe with many major psychoanalytic publications. However, from the early 1930s until the years leading up to perestroika, psychoanalytic thought was forbidden. The implications of this are described and discussed. The current position of child psychotherapy in Russia is changing, with an increase in clinical practice against the backcloth of rapid political change. The implications for clinicians are immense and challenging as international contact with colleagues opens up new possibilities and highlights the difficulties to be overcome.