Exploring parents' and professionals' perspectives of a parent-infant psychotherapy approach in the North East of England.

Abstract

Background: Parent-infant psychotherapy is a therapeutic intervention intended to address problems in the parent-infant relationship. In Newcastle Upon Tyne, a family-centred charity, Children North East, began delivering parent-infant psychotherapy in 2017, to support parents and infant relationships by addressing unconscious elements of behaviour which can create relational trauma.Objective: A formative service evaluation explored parents' experiences of the Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Parent-Infant Partnership service, alongside wider healthcare professionals' perspectives of service delivery and impact on the parents and relationship with their babies.Methods: Interviews were undertaken with parents (n = 10) who had previously engaged with the service and healthcare professionals (n = 6) who had referred parents to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Parent-Infant Partnership.Results: The interviews highlighted a flexible and relational approach to therapy sessions, which created a positive experience for families. However, there is a need to improve public and professional awareness of infant mental health, parent-infant psychotherapeutic and relational approaches.Conclusions: The service proved effective in supporting the relationship between parent and infant identified through the parent-infant psychotherapy approach, which was fluid, open and nurturing, relative to other experiences of therapy and mental health support available in the North East. Service providers would enhance their impact on families by building and strengthening partnerships with the multiple health and social care organisations and systems involved in supporting families, and ensure their services become more inclusive. Further research is required to identify specific needs in local contexts, long-term outcomes, and to define relevant outcome measures in families with relationship concerns.