“Talk to me like I’m a human” An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the psychotherapy experiences of young people in foster care in Ireland

ABSTRACT

Many young people in foster care experience significant mental health difficulties, leading to attendance at services where engaging them in psychotherapy that adequately meets their diverse needs is an ongoing challenge. There is a dearth of research exploring the experiences of young people in foster care, and even less on their experiences of therapeutic engagement. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), individual interviews were conducted with seven young people in foster care about their experiences of psychotherapy. Four superordinate themes were identified: being powerless; risking relationship; opening up; and finding connection. Young people revealed complex intrapersonal and interpersonal processes where they felt disempowered, drew on their courage to gradually build trust in therapists, were able to share their innermost thoughts and feelings and established deeper connections with themselves and others. This lived experience, illustrating a journey of relational connection, aligns with recognition theory, highlighting young people’s need for authentic recognition as individuals in their totality, for psychotherapy that offered emotional connection and opportunities for systemic relational growth. The study illuminates the inherent challenges of working with this population, while informing practice about how to engage with young people in foster care in a meaningful and helpful way.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychotherapy
• young people
• foster care
• interpretative phenomenological analysis
• client experiences

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the generosity and bravery of all of the young people who took part in this study in order to benefit others and the professionals who assisted with recruitment. The Doctoral research was funded by Five Rivers Fostering, Ireland.

Disclosure statement

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

Practical implications

This study: provides a nuanced understanding of the profound challenges faced by young people in foster care when engaging in psychotherapy; illuminates the resonance between young peoples’ prior negative relational experiences and therapeutic engagement/ participation; highlights the subtleties of providing psychotherapy that is sensitive to young people’s experiences, communicates understanding and facilitates engagement; and explores how opportunities for the growth of self-knowledge, feeling valued and developing relational connections beyond the therapy room can be facilitated.

Notes

1. Ages are presented in brackets after the young person is first introduced

2. Catherine requested that her foster carer accompany her to the interview

3. Beth and Bob were living with their maternal grandparents as part of a relative foster placement at the time of interview

4. Keith was living with his maternal aunt at the time of interview

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Five Rivers Fostering, Ireland

Notes on contributors

Daire Gilmartin

Daire Gilmartin a Principal Counselling Psychologist and Psychotherapist working in Five Rivers Fostering Ireland recently completed his Doctoral studies in Psychotherapy at Dublin City University (DCU). He has worked for many years in the public and private sector, with children and young people who have experienced maltreatment as well as adults who have experienced abuse as children.

Rosaleen McElvaney

Rosaleen McElvaney is Principal Psychotherapist in a child sexual abuse unit in Children’s Health Ireland at Connolly Hospital and Assistant Professor in Psychotherapy in Dublin City University. She has several years experience working as a lecturer in psychology and psychotherapy, as a clinical psychologist in the public health service in Ireland, and has published widely on the topic of child sexual abuse.

Melissa Corbally

Melissa Corbally is an Assistant Professor of General Nursing in Dublin City University. She lectures in a wide variety of topics, including general nursing, health issues and violence and abuse in society. She has a broad spectrum of research expertise and has a special interest in research relating to the topic of domestic violence. She has published widely in this area.