Experiences of family therapists working with parents after the forced removal of children: What can the contextual model tell us?

Abstract

Parents whose children have been statutorily removed by child protection services are a vulnerable, hard-to-reach, and under-focused group. Their needs are numerous and complex. The Family Counselling Services in Norway are mandated to prioritize and provide emotional support services to this parent group. The study aimed to explore and understand the experiences and needs of family therapists through the lens of the Contextual Model (Wampold, 2015). A national sample of 21 therapists currently providing services to this parent group participated in the study. Data were collected using focus-group interviews. The main categories of the initial bond, the personal relationship, expectations, and therapy-specific ingredients provided a framework to assess what therapists already know and need in the future to provide services to the parent group. Therapists showed great awareness and strength in building a personal relationship with the client. However, they felt that sharpening their generalist knowledge with therapy-specific models would make them more effective therapists. The contextual model provided new concepts and vocabulary that can enrich research and clinical efforts and lift it to a broader audience.