Psychodynamic Parenthood Therapy: A model for therapeutic work with parents and parenthood

Abstract

The approach to therapeutic work with parents in psychotherapy has been described in the literature in various ways but is not well defined. This article will give a short review of four main types of therapeutic work with parents: 1) Meeting to update and to accompany parents (Periodic update meeting with parents complementary to the child's psychotherapy), 2) Parental counseling (guidance), 3) Parent-child therapy (Relationship or dyadic therapy), 4) Family therapy. The claim is made that those approaches, important and effective as they are, do not deal with the parent as a main issue, and do not place enough attention on parenthood. This article offers a model referred to here as Psychodynamic Parenthood Therapy (PPT). PPT is a dynamic therapeutic intervention with parents based upon a contract focusing mainly on working on their parenthood. In general, a parent's negative feelings towards his parenthood or towards his child are some of the basic issues that can be helped by this approach. After clarifying the guidelines for choosing PPT, both the contract and the process itself will be explained. The process deals with parenthood: internalizations, unconscious feelings, intergenerational transmissions and parental identity. In comparison with other methods which do not deal specifically with parenthood, PPT will often lead to a meaningful and effective therapeutic result.

Participação dos Pais na Psicoterapia da Criança: Práticas dos Psicoterapeutas

“…Esses achados vão na direção da literatura, que destaca a necessidade e a importância da inclusão dos pais na psicoterapia da criança (Chahine, 2011;Dugmore, 2009;Fortes, 2008;Glenn et al, 1996;Harel et al, 2006;Kernberg et al, 2012;Klinger et al, 2011;Nevas, & Farber, 2001;Oren, 2011;Pozzi-Monzo et al, 2012;Sei et al, 2008;Zavaschi et al, 2005). Contudo, as práticas reveladas pelos psicoterapeutas também se dividem, assim como descrito na literatura, entre abordagens mais compreensivas e intervencionistas e outras que circunscrevem a participação dos pais ao intercâmbio de informações.…”

“…De maneira semelhante, Oren (2011) propõe um modelo que consiste numa intervenção terapêutica com os pais, que visa trabalhar o sentido da paternidade/maternidade. Assim, devido às dificuldades emocionais dos pais, o terapeuta não terá outra escolha senão aconselhamento parental como uma forma de proporcionar mudanças no funcionamento familiar.…”

Overview of Intervention Programs for Parents of Young Children (0 - 6)

“…Identification of the significant effect of parental behavior during early stages of life upon child development and behavior precipitated the need to develop modes of therapeutic work with parents [4] [5]). Therapeutic work with parents exists in a number of forms and models, including a number of types of intervention in which the parent is not the main focus, with therapy defined as "with" the parent (Parental therapy/guidance), and interventions in which therapeutic work focuses on the parent himself (Parenthood Therapy) [11]. Three types of common interventions with parents can be identified: 1) Meeting with parents in parallel to child therapy-The emphasis is on child therapy and the parent is accompanied and connected to the process the child is undergoing.…”

“…Beginning in the 1960's a number of research groups began to develop parent training programs which by now have a broad base of research [2]. This relates to programs that strengthen parenting through learning and provision of tools of experience and developmental knowledge [11], with the ultimate goal of promoting the child and parent's sense of wellbeing and quality of life [2] [4] [12].…”

Mothers’ perception of their involvement in expressive and creative therapy provided to their children at a special education school

“…This topic is receiving further focus due to the understanding of how the family unit is formed, its roles and the conception that both parents can contribute to the proper development of adolescents, which will stay with them for many years (Cohen, 2007). Parents' attitudes to the therapy provided to their children are directly related to their parental attitude, both at the foundation of their self-perception as meaningful and central figures in their children's life and in their perception of their involvement in the children's therapeutic relationship (Oren, 2012). Another aspect of parent involvement relates to the parent's contact and communication with the therapist.…”