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Exploring Child-Parent Relationship Therapy -CPRT- Impact on Externalised Behaviours of Foster Children Experienced Complex Trauma: A Case Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2024

S. Hatam*
Affiliation:
1Faculty of Health
S. Moss
Affiliation:
2Charles Darwin University
C. Cubillo
Affiliation:
3healing circle psychology, Darwin
S. Parsafar
Affiliation:
1Faculty of Health
D. Berry
Affiliation:
4interplay play therapy australia, Perth, Australia
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Many foster children experience traumatic events that result in a wide range of disruptive behaviours, such as temper tantrums, superficially charming, no sincere remorse, and so forth. These problematic behaviours are challenging to the implementation of holistic therapeutic interventions.

Objectives

The purpose of the current study is to explore the effectiveness of employing Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) on externalised behaviours of a traumatised child at home and in social interactions.

Methods

This study used a case study to explore the influence of CPRT on externalised behaviours of traumatised foster children. The case study focused on the externalised problematic behaviours of an Australian Aboriginal child fostered under long-term care at 18 months by a Caucasian family. The foster parent and the foster child received a 10-session structured CPRT across ten weeks. The child’s externalised behaviours were evaluated through the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) form.

Results

The findings describe the process of a 10-session structured CPRT with a foster child who exhibits externalised disruptive behaviours because of abandonment and complex trauma. The themes in the foster parent’s role and the play therapy approach relate to traumatic events and attachment issues. The results indicated a slight reduction in these behaviours. According to the follow-up interview, the child still showed aggressive behaviours in social interactions but not at home. Interviews with the foster parent indicated both the parent and child require additional support and further sessions of CPRT.

Conclusions

This case study identified an improvement in externalised behaviours for foster children with experience of complex trauma and abandonment after a 10-session CPRT. Further research is required to explore the effectiveness of a longer-term session of CPRT alongside additional support services for foster parents.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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