Therapeutic Competence in Parenting Programs: A Focus Group Study

Abstract

While research on parenting programs typically focuses on program-specific evaluations, this article considers therapeutic competence as a transversal feature across different programs. It draws empirically on focus group interviews with practitioners of two separate parenting programs in Sweden: Circle of Security (COS-P) and Communication Method (COMET). The qualitative data analysis shows how the practitioners of both programs used their therapeutic competence to tailor the program manuals for each parent group; they combined the techniques of positive reinforcement and intentional self-disclosure with an attuned flexibility that was enabled by mentalization. The article concludes that therapeutic competence is a crucial aspect of parenting programs that needs further attention from scholars and practitioners alike.