A model for an integrated assessment with parents of children with eating and evacuation disorders

Today most clinical interventions for children include parents from the early stage of treatment (Neri & Latmiral, 2004; Sameroff, Donough, & Rosenblum, 2006; Tsiantis et al., 2002; Vallino, 2002, 2009). Specifically, parents’ participation in the child’s diagnosis and, subsequently, in his/her treatment allows for a better understanding of the child’s symptoms within the family relationships. In this way therapists find the opportunity to establish a therapeutic relationship with parents based on a mutual understanding of the child’s difficulties and, furthermore, on their collaboration and agreement on what are the main goals and tasks of intervention. These aspects refer to the therapeutic alliance (TA) with parents, seen as a necessary component of a successful assessment and intervention. The “Focal Play Therapy with children and parents” (FPT-CP; Trombini & Trombini, 2006, 2007; Trombini E., 2010, 2011, 2016) has been designed for eating and evacuation disorders in preschool children usually connected to parent-child relationship problems. This model of intervention consists of an initial phase (6 sessions) where parents are actively involved. Main goals are: the assessment of the child’s symptoms within the family dynamics and the promotion of the therapeutic alliance with parents. The present research wants to evaluate the effects of the FPTCP in terms of: a) improving TA with parents; b) decreasing of parenting stress and of parent-child relationship problems. The sample is made up of 14 parental couples and their children (Mage = 4 years). Correlations between parent’s alliance scores and parent’s dimensions of personality were investigated. Differences in alliance scores between parents and therapist and between each parent were also examined. A semistructured interview was used to investigate parents’ perception of FPT-CP strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, two contrasting cases will be discussed along with the implications of the study.