Fostering Change: Toward Understanding, Valuing, and Informing the Therapeutic Role of Foster Parents

Date of Award

Summer 8-25-2012

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Lavita Nadkarni

Second Advisor

Michael Karson

Third Advisor

Claire Poole

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Child welfare, Adolescents, Children, Qualitative research, Parent child relations, Therapeutic alliance, Parent training, Foster parents, Foster children, Psychotherapeutic processes, Foster care

Abstract

Foster parents have the potential to effect lasting therapeutic change through their role with the children they temporarily foster. Therapists working with foster parents can understand, support, and inform foster parents in their role based on a commonality that exists between the roles of therapists and foster parents. Similarities at different stages of both the therapeutic and foster parenting relationships are addressed, as well as the use of these relationships in a therapeutic manner. Advantages (for foster parents, foster children, therapists, and the foster care system) of articulating the foster parenting relationship through the lens of the therapeutic relationship are also discussed. Future research into the experience of foster parents in their role will be essential in creating an effective and sustainable system of care for vulnerable children.

Copyright Date

6-28-2012

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Rights Holder

Margaret E. Picard

Provenance

Received from Author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

34 pgs

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