An exploration of parents' experiences in 'Watch, Wait and Wonder' parent-infant psychotherapy groups

• Main Author: O'Hanlon, Justin
• Published: University of Essex 2015
• Subjects: 155.4; BF Psychology
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.688062

A body of research now exists which outlines the importance for children’s life chances of a sensitive, responsive relationship with at least one caregiver, and emphasises the necessity of supporting the emotional wellbeing of new parents in order to foster this relationship. The “1001 Critical Days” manifesto (Leadsom, Field, Burstow, & Lucas, 2013) proposes that at-risk families, or those experiencing difficulties, should be able to access evidence-based services which promote parent-infant interaction. It specifically identifies parent-infant psychotherapy as an example of such an intervention, while acknowledging that further research is needed in order to investigate its impact. In the researcher’s Local Authority, Early Years Specialist Educational Psychologists have worked together with their colleagues in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) to implement a range of early-intervention services. Among them is an adaptation of the “Watch, Wait and Wonder” parent-infant psychotherapy programme, which was modified to be run as a group intervention in a number of Children’s Centres. The aim of this thesis was to explore the experiences of parents who have taken part in this group. Five participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Transcribed interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), and the analysis linked to relevant literature. Five superordinate themes were identified: ‘Making Sense of the Group’, ‘The Role of Others’, ‘Power and Knowledge’, ‘Ghosts in the Group’, and ‘Evolving Relationships’. Implications of the findings for stakeholders are discussed.