Mattison, Victoria; (1998) Saying goodbye: How people with learning disabilities and staff experience the end of key working relationships. Doctoral thesis (D.Clin.Psy.), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This research, structured as two parallel and complementary studies, explored how people with learning disabilities and staff experience the ending of key working relationships. Twelve residents and 18 staff were interviewed about their previous experiences of such separations. The interviews were conducted and analysed using a grounded theory approach. The interviews focused on three areas: residents' and staffs perceptions of their key working relationships; preparations and adjustments at the end of those relationships; and the emotional impact of separation on both parties. The main analysis identified a six-part 'typology' of psychological processes describing the experiences of residents and staff: 'loss and grief; 'attachment'; 'denial'; 'helplessness'; 'self-devaluation'; and 'acceptance and acquiescence'. This typology was then incorporated into a final grounded theory account, drawing on two core concepts termed 'dependency' and 'fear of dependency'. The findings are discussed in relation to literature from indirectly related areas: the termination of therapeutic relationships, models of grief and loss, and social processes relating to residential care staff and people with learning disabilities respectively. The implications are considered for residential services for people with learning disabilities, researchers and clinical psychologists.

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