Through the eyes of the child : children’s experience of family therapy

Abstract

This study is about how children perceive their family therapy experience. A mosaic approach with reflexive thematic analysis is used. The participants of this study are six children between the ages of 7-11, parents who attended therapy with them, and their family therapists. Rich data of the children’s perception of therapy is gathered through child-led tours and photographs of the therapy space, interviews and creations with children, and interviews with parents and therapists that add to the contextual data. Findings indicate that children consider family therapy to be an overall positive experience, supported by the therapists’ stance, and facilitated by creative play-based approaches. Children would like family therapy to be a mixture of talk and play. While caregivers provide information prior to the initial session, children require more information about therapy to feel at ease. Results show that children may be positioned by constructs of what the problem is, societal expectations of adult-child relationships, and the therapeutic conversation. Creative approaches have been identified as essential therapeutic tools to engage children, and caregivers’ involvement in such interventions has been noted to be equally as significant for children. The inclusion of all family members in therapy, and opportunities to have sessions alone was highlighted in the findings. Children appreciate having more agency throughout the termination process. A therapy space that accommodates for children’s needs is important. Suggestions for practice, training and future research are made. The strength of this study is that children’s voices, supported by their parents and therapists, are spotlighted.