From seeing difficult behaviour to recognizing legitimate needs – A qualitative study of mothers' experiences of participating in a Circle of Security Parenting program in a public mental health setting

ABSTRACT

Objective

Mental health challenges can interfere with caregivers’ self-efficacy and their ability to engage with their children in developmentally appropriate ways. The goal of this study was to explore whether the intervention Circle of Security Parenting (COS-P) was experienced as a meaningful adjunct to psychological treatment.

Method

Individual qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve female COS-P participants, exploring how taking part in COS-P had changed the way they related to themselves and others. Data were analyzed using a team-based, reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

The analysis resulted in three main themes: (i) Connecting dots: A new perspective on one’s past, (ii) Seeing oneself more clearly: Increased capacity to recognize and tend to own needs, and (iii) Gaining a map: Becoming a more competent parent.

Conclusion

Taking part in COS-P as an adjunct to psychological treatment positively impacted participants’ sense of competence as mothers. They used the COS-P framework to make sense of their interaction with their child, enabling them to understand the child’s behaviour and communication as expressing legitimate attachment needs. They also experienced that the course strengthened central psychological capacities, such as insight into their own developmental histories as well as increased self-awareness and self-care. Implications are discussed.

Keywords:

• attachment
• Circle of Security
• COS-P
• parenting intervention
• patient experience
• qualitative interviews

Acknowledgements

We thank all the patients who participated in the COS-P courses, and in particular those who shared their experiences so openly during the qualitative interviews. We are also grateful to the staff at Solli DPS who led the COS-P groups or otherwise contributed to the implementation of the intervention: Kirsten Runeberg Broch, Mari-Janne Oosterman Boonstra, Bernt Ingve Rød, Anne Cathrine Ulvik Holten, Audun Røren and Kristine Sørensen. This study would not have been possible without them.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).