Changes in Child Psychodynamic Psychotherapy According to the Parents’ View

In child psychodynamic psychotherapy research, a remaining question is how to systematically evaluate changes and which ones are regarded as fundamental.
Qualitative analyzes that contemplate the parents’ view of such changes have not been undertaken. The aim of this study was to investigate the parents’ perception of possible changes in school-age children during their psychotherapies. The study had a qualitative, descriptive, longitudinal design. The participants were the parents of four school-aged children, assisted in private clinic by three psychotherapists trained in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. They periodically answered to an open-ended questionnaire that focused on perceived changes during the therapeutic process. The results showed that fathers and mothers identified changes in the course of their children’s psychotherapies, which were not linear and were not restricted to symptomatic improvements. Changes in children mental functioning and in their adjustment to reality, interpersonal relationships, have also been identified. The importance of parental participation in children’s psychotherapy and the follow-up of their perceptions about the therapeutic process was discussed. They can provide important feedbacks that contribute to the progress of treatment.

Keywords: Psychoanalytic psychotherapy, change, children.