Evidence Hub

Exploring parents’ and professionals’ perspectives of a parent-infant psychotherapy approach in the North East of England

Quick-read summary

Parent-infant psychotherapy is a therapeutic intervention intended to address problems in the parent-infant relationship. In Newcastle, Children North East began delivering parent-infant psychotherapy in 2017 (the Newcastle Parent-Infant Partnership (NEWPIP) Service) to support parents and infant relationships by addressing unconscious elements of behaviour which can create relational trauma.

Researchers carried out an evaluation that explored parents’ experiences of the Parent-Infant Partnership service, alongside wider healthcare professionals’ perspectives of service delivery and impact on the parents and relationship with their babies. The research involved interviews with parents and professionals.

The research found that the service was effective in supporting the relationship between parent and infant identified through the parent-infant psychotherapy approach, which was fluid, open and nurturing, relative to other experiences of therapy and mental health support available in the North East.

The research also found that there is a need to improve public and professional awareness of infant mental health, parent-infant psychotherapeutic and relational approaches.

Conclusions

NEWPIP addresses a gap in service provision for parents and infants experiencing relational
trauma. According to the parents and referring professionals involved in the study, the service
has been perceived as somewhat effective in supporting the relationship between parents and
infants, which was fluid, open, and nurturing, relative to other experiences of therapy and mental health support available in the North East.

This research was undertaken for Children North East, but the interviews identified important implications for practice elsewhere, including gender and race considerations for more inclusive access to PIP.

Read more about the evaluation: Exploring parents’ and professionals’ perspectives of a parent-infant psychotherapy approach in the North East of England: Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health: Vol 0, No 0

Acknowledgments

This research was undertaken as an independent evaluation conducted by researchers at
Newcastle University, supported by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria (ARC NENC).

The NEWPIP service changed to ‘Little Minds in Mind’ in 2022, and now covers a broader geographical area across the North East of England. This research was undertaken before the service re-shape and evaluates the former NEWPIP service.

Read more about the Little Minds in Mind service, delivered by Children North East: “You don’t have to face things alone”: Little Minds in Mind offers a lifeline to families – Children North East