A case report outlining clinical work with a mother with acquired brain injury and her infant son

ABSTRACT

Objective

Clinical infant mental health interventions with brain-injured mothers and fathers and their infants is scarcely described in the literature. Further elaboration of this work is required and this paper seeks to add to that literature.

Method

This is a single case report describing home-visiting clinical work with a mother with an acquired brain injury focussing on her relationship with her infant over more than 2 years. A range of interventions including family support, developmental guidance, video-replay and holding a reflective stance were delivered throughout the 2-year period.

Results

The mother reported that her relationship with her son improved though sometimes strong feelings of ambivalence towards her son remained.

Discussion

Participation in psychological therapy resulted in the mother experiencing significant emotional fatigue. Clinicians should be aware of this possible emotional toll on the person with a brain injury. The relative contributions of the parent’s social and emotional experience prior to the acquired brain injury, the effects on the functioning of that injury and the interplay between these factors should be considered. Interventions should be informed by each family’s individual needs, begin early in life and a mix of behavioural and psychological interventions may be desirable. The experience of a very young child must also be held in mind.

KEYWORDS:

• Acquired brain injury
• parenting
• infant
• infant mental health
• reflective capacity

Acknowledgements

The author is most privileged to have been allowed into this family’s life and challenges. The author acknowledges the support of clinical supervisors who added meaning and understanding to his observations and to senior staff who allowed him to continue to work with this family over a number of years in a service that has a very high demand on its resources. This allowed Karen and the author to work through the ‘ebb and flow’ of their therapeutic relationship which in turn may have shaped Karen and Harry's relationship.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.