Angela Abela

Ethical dilemmas of a clinician/researcher interviewing women who have grown up in a family where there was domestic violence

This paper attempts to illuminate some of the ethical dilemmas of a clinician/researcher interviewing women about a sensitive topic- their experience of having witnessed domestic violence in the family they grew up in, as part of a grounded theory study. Vignettes are presented to illustrate the self-reflexive process of the researcher and how she understood the effects of the interview process on her and the participants. The authors argue that doing in-depth qualitative research interviewing is an intervention in the life of the participants, especially, but not only, when the researchers are clinically-trained. However, this clinical training may also be an important resource from which to draw from, to act ethically and understand some of the complexity of the interaction between researcher and participants.

Early parenting – portraits from the lives of first-time parents

Objective: The study aimed to explore the experiences of first-time Maltese parents between pregnancy and the first six months in the postnatal period. Background: Parents’ interaction with their children appears to have an important and lasting effect on children’s cognitive and behavioural development. While both women and men anticipate equal involvement in child care, it is generally the woman who assumes primary responsibility when the new baby arrives. Methods: The qualitative paradigm was used to conduct the study by means of a semi-structured interview schedule. Data was collected at 28 weeks gestation, at 6 weeks postnatally and at 6 months postnatally. Twenty-six first-time parents (13 couples) participated in the study and were recruited by purposive sampling. Gender theory was used as the theoretical framework to guide this study. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used during the analysing phase. Results: Two main super-ordinate themes were revealed from this study: ‘Pregnancy as a time of preparation’ and ‘The postnatal period as a time of critical change in the lifeworld of the couple’. Conclusion: Findings showed that competent and timely support by trained professionals could equip future couples for the art of parenting and could help parents to resolve challenges before they escalate into problems. This study encourages cross-cultural research on this topic so as to shed light on differences and similarities of contemporary early parenting challenges and outcomes.

Attitudes About Remarriage in Malta

This study investigated the attitudes about remarriage of married and previously married Maltese people. Respondents were selected using stratified random sampling; 810 men and 1,196 women answered a questionnaire by means of computer-assisted telephone interviewing. The majority (67.4%) of respondents did not consider remarriage. Remarriage was more likely to be considered by respondents who were younger, previously married, nonparents, had children who were not all born within marriage, and were of higher socioeconomic status. The study highlights the differences in attitude according to gender and marital status. The fact that pro-remarriage attitudes were endorsed by 32.6% of respondents and that these were more likely to come from nontraditional family forms suggests that family life in Malta is no longer dictated by normative social imperatives. The need for the legal protection of families headed by cohabiting partners is highlighted.

Supervision and Consultation with Practitioners Who Intervene with Families and Trauma

Working with children and families who have been traumatised by violence and abuse is demanding and complex and supervision is critical for professionals working in the field. In this chapter, the importance of a trusting supervisory alliance, which is based on safety, will be highlighted. Developing a sound formulation, which is theoretically sound will be given prime importance and ways of supporting, helping and caring for clinicians will be discussed. Various dilemmas and ethical issues that clinicians who work in this field have to face will also be explored. The self-care of the supervisor will be prioritised.

Helping Couples Separate Safely: Working Towards Safe Separations

When the physical violence stops, we often find that is when the couple contemplate a separation. It is as if they live under conditions of chronic crisis during the times, if not years, when violence was prevalent, and accordingly manage and cope on a day-to-day basis as best they can, and often dare not risk reflection on their options. Sometimes such reflection can be dangerous.

How to Help Stop the Violence: Using a Safety Methodology Across the Life Span

This chapter outlines a systemic safety methodology for safe relationship therapy with couples, parents and families where physical violence is of concern. A step-by-step guide is offered here for the first time in publication. This systemic approach to safety in family relationships was developed over 20 years in the Reading, UK, ‘Safer Families’ family violence intervention service and is grounded in relevant theory and research.

Living with Violence in the Family: Retrospective Recall of Women’s Childhood Experiences

This chapter looks at some key clinical themes that may arise when working with families where intimate partner violence has stopped or when working with clients who have grown up in families where there was domestic violence. Clinicians may also find these themes relevant during the course of therapy with other clients, who might initially be present to therapy with difficulties other than experiences of domestic violence.

Healing and Repair in Relationships: Working Therapeutically with Couples

This chapter is concerned with healing and repair in couple relationships—helping couples to reconnect and re-bond, if that is their wish, after the physical violence has stopped.

Prevention and Early Intervention with Violence and Abuse in Families

This chapter is about the prevention of intimate partner violence and child abuse that take place inside the home. It starts by providing a theoretical framework for understanding the processes at play when there is abuse in the family. The current legal frameworks that are in place and the strategic policies, including examples of good practice and evidence-based policies aimed to prevent violence and abuse between family members, are then reviewed.

Working Systemically with Parents, Children and Adult Survivors When the Abuse Stops

Many parents feel very distressed when experiencing serious difficulties with their children and come forward to ask for help themselves, while others are referred to clinicians for help by child protection services. Therapeutic work with families whose children are placed in out-of-home care is often about repair and healing following maltreatment. Many others, who would have been abused as children, consult with a therapist when they become adults. This chapter is about therapeutic work with families when the violence from parent to child stops. It also touches on violence from child to parent and on violence between siblings. How do we go about helping parents and their children in such difficult situations once the violence stops?