Bridging the gap - the co-creation of a therapeutic process : reflections by parents and professionals on their shared experiences of early childhood interventions

• The aim of this study was to explore parents' and therapists' experiences of treatment processes in early childhood interventions. The parents and their therapists reflected on their experiences in joint interviews. The interpretation led to the crystallization of five central themes. The starting point was marked by 'parents' fear versus professional(s') confidence'. This formed the background against which both parties aimed at 'making sense of the situation'. The subsequent therapeutic process was characterized by the parents' and the professionals' 'striving for reciprocal responsiveness' and it led to the 'alteration of inner images'. Finally the two parties made a 'retrospective reflection on the nature of the relation'. Together these themes constitute the co-creation of a therapeutic process by bridging a gap that is created by fear, by power differentials and by differences in familiarity with the context. The parents shoulder responsibility for creating a cooperative relationship, and this is facilitated if they meet a 'normal, friendly and knowledgeable therapist who is capable of admitting that he/she may be wrong'.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Övrig annan samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap -- Kommunikationsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Media and Communications -- Communication Studies (hsv//eng)

Keyword

SOCIAL SCIENCES

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP

Social sciences

Socialvetenskap

Social work

Socialt arbete

Social Work

Socialt arbete

client’s perspective

early childhood

intervention investigative partnership

Marte Meo method

therapeutic relationship

treatment processes

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)