Young people, living in care and adopted, talk about their experiences of receiving an NHS therapeutic intervention. Qualitative research analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

This study explores the views and experiences of young people, adopted and in the care of a local authority who had received a therapeutic intervention from an NHS Attachment and Trauma Specialist Agency. Three children were interviewed, aged between 10 and 14 years, using semi-structured interviews. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The analysis of the results met with the findings in the literature that young people want to have access to non-judgmental therapy which both meets their needs and is creative. Recommendations for clinicians include giving adequate preparatory information and ensuring on-going collaboration with young people receiving therapeutic interventions through the use of on-going feedback about what works for them.

Practitioner points

• Practitioners should consider carefully how young people in public care are 'invited' to therapy, and give adequate pre-session information to help to reduce anxiety.
• Children and young people in public care engaging in therapy prefer a practitioner style which is creative, playful and enjoyable.
• A systemic framework can be integrated with attachment and trauma focused models of intervention.