Internet‐delivered emotion regulation therapy for adolescents engaging in non‐suicidal self‐injury and their parents: A qualitative, online focus group study-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Internet‐delivered emotion regulation therapy for adolescents engaging in non‐suicidal self‐injury and their parents: A qualitative, online focus group study

Published:2024-08-15 Issue: Volume: Page:
ISSN:1476-0835
Container-title:Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice
language:en
Short-container-title:Psychol Psychother

Author:

Christensen Sofie Heidenheim¹²^ORCID,Heinrichsen Michella¹,Møhl Bo³,Rubæk Lotte⁴,Byrialsen Katherine Krage¹,Ojala Olivia⁵,Hellner Clara⁵,Pagsberg Anne Katrine¹²,Bjureberg Johan⁵⁶,Morthorst Britt¹²

Affiliation:

1. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center Copenhagen University Hospital – Mental Health Services CPH Copenhagen Denmark

2. Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark

3. Department of Communication and Psychology Aalborg University Aalborg Denmark

4. Self‐Injury Team, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Copenhagen Denmark

5. Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience Karolinska Institute, & Stockholm Health Care Services Stockholm Sweden

6. Department of Psychology Stanford University Stanford California USA

Abstract

AbstractObjectivesWe explore adolescents' and their parents' experiences of internet‐based emotion regulation therapy for non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI).DesignA qualitative study nested within a controlled feasibility trial.MethodsOnline, semi‐structured focus group interviews were conducted with outpatient adolescents with NSSI aged 13–17 years (n = 9) and their parents (n = 8) who had received therapist‐guided Internet‐delivered Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents (IERITA). Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsThree main themes were generated: (1) Fatigue – barriers to and during treatment, comprised of two sub‐themes ‘Arriving to services exhausted, needing motivation, and leaving feeling abandoned’ and ‘the burden of IERITA and the consequences of fatigue’, (2) inter‐ and intrapersonal insights as facilitators of change and (3) Online, written contact with the therapist is beneficial and contributes with less pressure, comprised of three sub‐themes ‘the therapist behind the screen is essential’, ‘less pressure sitting alone: the physical absence of a therapist’ and ‘engaging on your own terms, in your own tempo’. Themes were consistent among adolescents and parents.ConclusionFatigue due to therapeutic engagement and previous help‐seeking processes created barriers for engagement. Emotion regulation therapy was experienced as beneficial leading to inter‐ and intra‐personal insights, facilitating change of maladaptive patterns. Therapists were regarded as indispensable, and the internet‐based format did not hinder therapeutic alliance. The written format allowed for reflection and alleviated the pressure of relating to the therapist. Further research should explore experiences of other online treatment formats (e.g. synchronous or video‐based) with regard to benefits, fatigue and therapist interaction.

Publisher

Wiley

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