Clinician Perspectives on the Circle of Security‐Parenting (COS‐P) Program: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

This study examined the perspectives of clinicians who facilitate Circle of Security‐Parenting (COS‐P) groups in community health settings. The therapists were from two services: a specialist perinatal and infant mental health consultation service and a child at risk health service. In particular, we were interested in their perceptions of the strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and possible improvements to the model as applied to their clinical settings. Two focus group interviews, involving eight clinicians and clinical supervisors from a diverse range of professional backgrounds, were conducted by an independent interviewer. A discussion guide consisted of a series of open‐ended questions related to the participants’ experiences of delivering COS‐P. Therapists found COS‐P to be effective, feasible to deliver, user‐friendly, flexible, and generalisable to diverse client subgroups. The compassionate and non‐judgmental therapeutic stance was considered a strength of the model. Clinicians highlighted their adoption of the model across their professional and personal lives and the critical importance of supervision. In conclusion, COS‐P is a popular and promising intervention which targets the parent–child relationship that can be successfully delivered to mothers affected by moderate to severe mental health problems.