The authors describe a system of intensive psychiatric services they developed to deal with the emergencies and difficult cases in a catchment area of 200,000 people in a low socioeconomic section of Paris. Mobile emergency and visiting teams including "indigenous" homemakers focus their intervention on the family of the designated patient in its home setting. The dynamics and techniques of home visiting are outlined as well as the process of "metabolism of anxiety" in the team that enables it to function as a therapeutic small group in its encounter with patients, families, and social networks.Abstract Teaser