Returning: A mixed-methods study exploring the experience of child psychotherapists engaging in parent work following the parent’s previous involvement with mental health services as a child or adolescent

Background and aims: Psychoanalytically informed parent work is central to supporting progress in child psychotherapy treatment. Although recognised by the professional body (ACP), and present in theoretical literature, the research base for parent work is limited. This study aimed to investigate the frequency that child psychotherapists conduct parent work with parents who previously accessed professional mental health support as children or adolescents; and explore the lived experience of child psychotherapists engaging in this work. Methodology: This study employed a mixed-methods design involving an ACP profession-wide audit. The audit results were analysed using descriptive statistics. Moreover, 4 child psychotherapists, with experience of working with parents who previously accessed mental health support as children or adolescents, engaged in semi-structured interviews about their lived experience. The interview data was analysed using IPA. Findings: Only 3.2% of ACP members completed the audit, within this group, which is not representative of the whole membership, 84% reported experience of working with this parent population. The IPA analysis generated four group experiential themes (with sub-themes): 1. Parent work environment: what it stirs up for the parent, 2. The influence of past experiences of accessing mental health support as a child or adolescent into the parent worker – parent relationship, 3. Working on trans-generational issues, across the family system and creating a support network, and 4. When the past interferes: Ending parent work in light of parent's previous experiences of accessing mental health support as a child or adolescent. Conclusions: While not generalisable the findings indicate that parent's past experiences of child and adolescent mental health services impacts on their engagement in parent work. The findings support existing literature emphasising the need for parent work; and importance of attentiveness to parent's previous experiences, and addressing intergenerational aspects within parent work. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are given.