Burns, P; (2014) Mothers’ experience of therapeutic processes in a reflective parenting programme. Doctoral thesis (D.Clin.Psy), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This thesis focuses on early parenting interventions that aim to promote secure parent-child attachment relationships. Part 1 is a literature review that critically evaluates the evidence for the effectiveness of early parenting interventions in improving the maternal sensitivity of mothers with clinical problems. Twelve studies met the criteria for inclusion; the methodological quality of the studies was high. Mixed evidence was found for the effectiveness of these interventions on maternal sensitivity, particularly in depressed mothers. Further research examining the long-term impact of these interventions on maternal sensitivity in clinical populations and their effectiveness with different types of psychological difficulties is needed. Part 2 is a qualitative study exploring parents’ experiences of engagement and change in Minding the Baby (MTB), a parenting programme aimed at facilitating improvements in the reflective functioning of disadvantaged mothers. The study is part of a larger UK pilot study of the MTB programme and it was conducted in collaboration with another UCL Clinical Psychology Doctorate student (Grayton, 2014). In the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 mothers and three fathers currently participating in MTB. Parents described changes in their parenting skills, their confidence and their wellbeing. They valued the flexible, individualised and collaborative nature of the programme and the strong therapeutic relationships they had with their MTB practitioners. The findings suggest that tailoring parenting programmes to meet the specific needs of parents experiencing social adversity is particularly important in facilitating their engagement and change. Part 3 reflects on challenges in designing and conducting the qualitative study, and the ways in which these were addressed.

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