title: A decade of parent and infant relationship support group therapy programs.
abstract: A 10-year experience with a unique, short-term community group therapy program, Parent and Infant Relationship Support (PAIRS) for high risk infants and their parents is discussed. The program offers ten, 2-hour closed weekly group therapy sessions for mothers and their babies, following a parallel conjoint model of group work. The aims of the PAIRS group program are threefold: to increase positive parent-infant interaction and secure attachment, to decrease maternal postnatal depression, and to foster optimal infant development. Evaluation of the program has shown promising results in comparison with a control group. Clinical case material is used to illustrate therapeutic processes underlying the positive outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Child Psychology, Southern Health Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), Melbourne, Australia. jansmith1@ozemail.com.au
authors.forename: Jan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cumming
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xeros-Constantinides
mesh_terms: D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D016487:Parenting; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010989:Play Therapy; D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D019962:Reactive Attachment Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012657:Self-Help Groups