Therapists’ Experiences of Mother–infant Psychoanalytic Treatment: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

As part of a larger research project in Sweden, a qualitative study investigated psychotherapists' experiences of mother-infant psychoanalysis (MIP). A randomized controlled trial compared two groups of mother-infant dyads with psychological problems. One had received Child Health Center care, and the other received MIP. Previous articles on long-term effects have found that mothers who had received MIP were less depressed throughout a posttreatment period of 3½ years, and their children showed better global functioning and psychological well-being. The present study's objectives were to describe the therapist's experiences of MIP and deepen the understanding of the MIP process. Six months after treatment began, all therapists were interviewed. Transcribed interviews with therapists from 10 (of 33 total) MIP treatments were randomly selected and analyzed in detail by thematic analysis. Therapists worked successfully with mother and infant together and found different ways of cooperation during MIP sessions. Therapists reported overall positive experiences; however, in cases where mothers needed more personal attention, it would be important to adapt the method to them.Keywords: mother-infant psychotherapy, postnatal distress, therapist interviews, thematic analysis RESUMEN: Trasfondo: Como parte de un proyecto de investigación mayor en Suecia, un estudio cualitativo investigó las experiencias que los sicoterapeutas tienen de sicoanálisis madre-infante (MIP). Un ensayo controlado al azar (RCT) comparó dos grupos de díadas madre-infante con problemas sicológicos. Uno había recibido el cuidado del Centro de Salud Infantil (CHCC) y el otro, el MIP. Artículos previos sobre efectos a largo plazo encontraron que el grupo de madres que habían recibido el MIP estaban menos deprimidas a lo largo de un período de 3 años y medio de tratamiento posterior y que sus niños mostraron mejor funcionamiento global y bienestar sicológico. Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron describir las experiencias del terapeuta con el MIP y profundizar la comprensión del proceso MIP. Método: Seis meses después que comenzó el tratamiento, todos los terapeutas fueron entrevistados. De un total de 33, se seleccionaron al azar las transcritas entrevistas con terapeutas de 10 tratamientos MIP, las cuales se analizaron en detalle según análisis temáticos. Resultados: Los terapeutas trabajaron exitosamente junto con la madre y el infante y encontraron diferentes maneras de cooperación durante las sesiones MIP. Conclusiones: Los terapeutas reportaron generalizadas experiencias positivas. Sin embargo, en casos en los que las madres necesitaban más atención personal sería importante adaptar el método a ellas.Palabras claves: sicoterapia madre-infante, angustia postnatal, entrevistas de terapeutas, análisis temáticos RÉSUMÉ: Arrière-plan : dans le contexte d'un projet de recherche plus grande en Suède, uneétude qualitative s'est penchée sur les expériences que les psychothérapeutes font de la psychanalyse mère-nourrisson (abrégé MIP en angla...

Parenting the parent without losing sight of the child. A qualitative study of therapists’ experiences with intergenerational adversities in perinatal psychotherapy

“…The challenge of forming and maintaining a firm therapeutic alliance is in line with clinical and research findings (Baradon & Joyce, 2016;Dalley, 2009;Foll & Guedeney, 2016;Jones, 2009;Lieberman et al, 2020;Slade et al, 2018;Tomas-Merrills & Chakraborty, 2009;Winberg Salomonsson & Barimani, 2018). Years of accumulated knowledge from the trauma field has provided an understanding of the meticulous work of creating a sense of safety in the therapeutic alliance before adventuring into the work of emotional regulation and reflective work required to challenge familiar dysfunctional patterns of being together (Courtois, 2004;Porges, 2011;Van der Kolk, 2014).…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, few studies have explored the therapists' experiences of perinatal psychotherapy, and even fewer studies have focused on the experiences of parents coming from generations of trauma, violence, and neglect. Notable exceptions are Salomonsson's qualitative study of therapists' experiences of mother-infant psychoanalytic treatment (Winberg Salomonsson & Barimani, 2018) and Ward's paper "Mothers' thinking and babies' survival" portraying a series of extreme cases also involving child death (Ward, 2005). The aim of the current study was to explore therapists' experiences and reflections in relation to their perinatal psychotherapeutic work when addressing the intergenerational transmission of adversities as part of a continuous effort to develop effective interventions for this group of patients.…”