Families' experiences of mentalization based treatment for families (MBT-F)

• Main Author: Etelapaa, Kaisa
• Published: University of London 2011
• Subjects: 616.89156
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.580669

The study explored families' experiences of Mentalization Based Treatment for Families (MBT-F), using a qualitative approach. Five families, five parents and four children, who attended MBT-F at a single Child and Family Service (CFS) were interviewed post-therapy using a semi-structured interview schedule developed for the study. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA; Smith, Jarman and Osborn, 1999), which aims to systematically explore an individual's perception of an event, was used to explore the participants' experience of MBT-F. Rich descriptions of the individual participants' experiences were gained and themes for the parents and the young people were then identified. These highlighted both similarities and differences within and between participants. The findings increased understanding of how families experience MBT-F and therefore made a contribution to the evaluation and further development of the therapy. Clinical implications were discussed and further research suggested.