ABSTRACT

This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of a videoconferencing group psychotherapy intervention for parents of children living with cerebral palsy. A six-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention called Take a Breath was provided. Participants were 26 parents of children aged 12 months to nine years, with severe cerebral palsy. Parents responded to questionnaires at three time-points; baseline, pre-intervention, and post-intervention. Qualitative responses were recorded in response to a structured item asking about benefits of participating in the intervention. Of those enrolled, 90% of parents attended the minimum required sessions and 35% attended all six sessions. Quantitative results revealed significant reductions in guilt and worry, and increased mindfulness, which echoed parents’ qualitative responses. The pilot findings suggest the Take a Breath intervention is a feasible and acceptable approach to providing mental health services to parents who face significant daily challenges and barriers to engaging support. Larger scale studies are warranted.

摘要

本研究探讨了视频会议团体心理治疗干预对脑瘫儿童父母的可行性和可接受性。提供了一个为期六次的接受和承诺疗法 (ACT) 干预，称为“喘口气”。参与者是 26 名 12 个月至 9 岁严重脑瘫儿童的父母。家长在三个时间点回复问卷；基线、干预前和干预后。针对询问参与干预的益处的结构化项目，记录了定性回答。在参加者中，90% 的家长参加了最低要求的课程，35% 的家长参加了所有六个课程。定量结果显示内疚和担忧显着减少，正念增加，这与父母的定性反应相呼应。试点调查结果表明，Take a Breath 干预是一种可行且可接受的方法，可以为面临重大日常挑战和参与支持障碍的父母提供心理健康服务。需要进行更大规模的研究。