Supporting parents through a narrative therapeutic group approach: a participatory research project

ABSTRACT

A narrative therapeutic group intervention, Tree of Life, was carried out with groups of ethnic minority parents of children with special educational needs and/or disability (SEND) in a mainstream primary school. A participatory research approach was used, involving collaboration with the group of parents and involvement of a parent co-researcher. Qualitative data were collected through a focus group with six parents on their views of the sessions. The parent co-researcher carried out the analysis of the data, using thematic analysis. The main themes identified were: “Sharing”, “Self-awareness” and “Change”. Strengths and limitations of the participatory research project are considered. The findings are discussed in relation to the experiences of ethnic minority parents of children with SEND. They are also considered in the context of educational psychologists engaging in critical and transformative practice through using narrative, strengths-based approaches, responding sensitively to diversity and working in ways which empower service-users.

KEYWORDS:

• Parents
• Tree of Life
• narrative approach
• ethnic minority
• parents
• participatory research

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.