Psychotherapy for child welfare cases: Clinicians' and parents' perspectives

Parents involved with child protective services (CPS) often face various challenges, including sociostructural marginalization, mental illness and difficulties in family relationships. Although their need for mental health services is generally acknowledged, the extant child welfare literature lacks studies on how CPS‐involved parents may benefit from such services. In an attempt to address this gap, the current study seeks to explore clinicians' and parents' perspectives regarding the role of psychotherapy services (e.g. individual or conjoint counselling/therapy) for child welfare cases. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with clinicians working with CPS‐involved families and parents accused of child maltreatment. Thematic analysis of the interview data generated three themes: (1) psychotherapy as a place for safety and empathy, (2) psychotherapy as a place for challenge and (3) psychotherapy as a place for problem resolution. The findings suggest that psychotherapy services may benefit CPS‐involved parents not only by offering much‐needed emotional support and resources within sessions but also by facilitating parents' collaboration with CPS through their partnership with caseworkers outside of sessions. For child welfare practice, it is recommended that psychotherapy services be included from the outset of parents' CPS involvement to promote their psychological and relational well‐being as well as their successful completion of CPS requirements.