Reconnecting mothers and children after violence (RECOVER): a feasibility study protocol of child–parent psychotherapy in Australia

Abstract

IntroductionIntimate partner violence detrimentally affects the social and emotional well-being of children and mothers. These two populations are impacted both individually and within the context of their relationship with one another. Child mental health, maternal mental health and the mother–child relationship may be impaired as a consequence. Early intervention to prevent or arrest impaired mother–child attachment and child development is needed. Dyadic or relational mental health interventions that include mothers with their children, such as child–parent psychotherapy, are effective in improving the mental health of both children and mothers and also strengthening their relationship. While child–parent psychotherapy has been trialled overseas in several populations, Australian research on relational interventions for children and women recovering from violence is limited. This study aims to assess the acceptability and feasibility of implementing child–parent psychotherapy in Australian families.Methods and analysisUsing a mixed methods, prepost design this feasibility study will examine the acceptability of the intervention to women with preschool aged children (3–5 years, n=15 dyads) and providers, and identify process issues including recruitment, retention and barriers to implementation and sustainability. In addition, intervention efficacy will be assessed using maternal and child health outcomes and functioning, and mother–child attachment measures. Young children’s mental health needs are underserviced in Australia. More research is needed to fully understand parenting in the context of intimate partner violence and what works to help women and children recover. If the intervention is found to be feasible, findings will inform future trials and expansion of child–parent psychotherapy in Australia.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval obtained from clinical sites and the La Trobe University Human Research Ethics Committee (ID: HEC17-108). Results will be disseminated through conference proceedings and academic publications.

Providing therapeutic services to women and children who have experienced intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges and learnings

“…The delivery of Restoring Childhood via telehealth remained consistent with the face-to-face delivery model. Telehealth adaption of CPP (Ghosh Ippen et al, 2020) was informed by participation in CPP Community of Practice and supervision networks established as part of the RECOVER project (Hooker et al, 2019). Although government restrictions differed across metropolitan and regional settings in Victoria, at the time of the interviews, all sites had completed at least 8 weeks of consecutive lockdown.…”

Mothering in the context of intimate partner violence: A feminist intersectional critique of the nursing literature

“…Efforts to broaden and improve interventions so that the nature of IPV and postseparation violence and outcomes for mothers are considered alongside those of children and families within the context of women's varied social locations is a potentially important pathway for improving quality of care. Interventions based on helping women mothering in the context of IPV to address their priorities hold promise (Sharps et al, 2016; Taft et al, 2015) as do those focused on the mother–child relationship (Hooker et al, 2019). Building on this work so that women's needs are considered and addressed within the context of their varied social locations will enhance quality and service fit for women.…”

Australian Maltreated Infants and Young Children Can Achieve Positive Relational Health With Neurodevelopmentally- and Trauma-Informed Interventions Provided Within Relationally-Positive and Stable Environments

“…Relational health is also addressed in other interventions approaches including Filial Family Therapy ( 54 ). Child-focused psycho-education ( 55 ), Child Parent psychotherapy ( 56 ), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing [EMDR; ( 57 )], and Family Therapy ( 58 ) may be utilized solely or with a combination of other approaches to address the impact of maltreatment.…”