Parents' Experiences of their Child's Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-A) Intervention

Abstract

Rationale and Aims: Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-A) is an evidence-based intervention for treating depression in young people, with parental involvement encouraged as part of the process. While research has examined IPT-A’s effectiveness, there is limited understanding of parents’ experiences with this intervention. Given the important role parents play in supporting their child’s mental health, this study aims to explore their lived experiences, focusing on how they interpret the intervention, their involvement, and the perceived positive and negative aspects of their child’s therapy. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven parents whose children received IPT-A. The study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore in depth how parents make sense of their lived experiences, with a focus on identifying key themes that capture the complexities of these experiences. Findings: The analysis revealed three Group Experiential Themes and their respective subthemes, including the struggles of navigating the mental health care system, parent roles and boundaries in therapy and learning points for IPT-A. These themes reflect the complexities and emotional journeys parents undergo while supporting their child through therapy. These themes also touch upon the roles of parents in the therapeutic process and the perceived effectiveness of the IPT-A intervention. Discussion: This study highlights the complexities of parents' experiences with their child’s IPT-A intervention. Parents expressed frustration and helplessness due to long waits for therapy, negative previous experiences and difficulties in securing appropriate support, yet remained determined to do whatever it took to help their child. The study revealed mixed emotions regarding parental involvement in therapy, with some parents feeling excluded