The Focal Play Therapy: An Empirical Study on the Parent–Therapist Alliance, Parent–Child Interactions and Parenting Stress in a Clinical Sample of Children and Their Parents

Ilaria Chirico, Federica Andrei, Paola Salvatori, Irene Malaguti and Elena Trombini
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Ilaria Chirico: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Federica Andrei: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Paola Salvatori: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Irene Malaguti: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Elena Trombini: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-14

Abstract: The present study aims to investigate the outcomes of the Focal Play Therapy with Children and Parents (FPT-CP) in terms of parent–therapist alliance, parent–child interactions, and parenting stress. Thirty parental couples ( N = 60; 30 mothers and 30 fathers) and their children presenting behavioral, evacuation and eating disorders took part to the study. Through a multi-method longitudinal approach, data were collected at two time points (first and seventh sessions) marking the first phase of the intervention specifically aimed to build the alliance with parents, a crucial variable for the remission of the child’s symptoms (and to the assessment of the child’s symptoms within family dynamics.) Therapeutic alliance was assessed by the Working Alliance Inventory by therapists and parents. Parent–child interactions and parenting stress were evaluated using the Emotional Availability Scales and the Parenting Stress Index, respectively. Results showed that a positive parent–therapist alliance was developed and maintained during the first seven sessions. Furthermore, parent–child interactions significantly improved on both parents’ and child’s dimensions. However, parenting stress levels remained unchanged between the two time points. The findings should enrich scientific knowledge about the role of parental engagement in preschool child-focused treatments as to better inform practice and improve the quality of care for children and their families.

Keywords: psychodynamic child psychotherapy; child–parent psychotherapy; therapeutic alliance; parenting stress index (PSI); parent–child interactions; parenting; developmental psychopathology; infant mental health; child eating disorders; child evacuation disorders (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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