Research
The research at the Erica Foundation concerns child and adolescent
psychotherapy, various types of educational programs in the field and
questions regarding supervision and learning processes.
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TURNING POINTS IN CHILD PSYCHOTHERAPY
1995 – 1999
Project leader: Gunnar Carlberg PhD, Associate Professor,
licensed psychologist and psychotherapist and Director of the Erica
Foundation.
Aim. To investigate the nature and content of change, and factors
underlying change processes in psychodynamic child psychotherapy.
Method. Data from crucial, data-rich episodes in several child
psychotherapies were systematically collected in four studies. The
narratives of the psychotherapists were supplemented with data from
questionnaires and analyses of process notes. Data were collected from
fourteen child psychotherapies through interviews, process records and
questionnaires. In addition, examples of changes in 102 psychotherapies
were collected through a questionnaire. Both qualitative and
quantitative methods were used in the analysis of data.
Results. Different kinds of turning points could be described. A
few were turning points in the sense of a sudden, unexpected change that
persisted. Some were best categorised as ‘the process goes on’. It was
often possible to reconstruct a process leading up to the change. How
one categorises an identified change is dependent on factors such as
‘the severity of the child’s disorder’ and on ‘the way the
psychotherapist organises his experience of psychotherapy processes’.
The therapists’ experiences of turning points can be seen as a part of
their way of creating meaning. In the beginning of therapy turning
points were connected with ‘the therapeutic alliance’ and later with
‘conflict’ and ‘working through’. From the analysis of factors seen as
underlying change processes, a description of conditions beneficial for
change was given. The meeting between two subjects, mutually influencing
each other could be considered the nucleus of change.
References.
Carlberg, G. (1997). Laughter opens the door: turning points in child
psychotherapy. Journal of Child Psychotherapy. 23, 331-349.
Carlberg, G. (1999). Vändpunkter i barnpsykoterapi.
Psykoterapeuters erfarenheter av förändringsprocesser, [Turning
points in child psychotherapy. Psychotherapists’ experiences of change
processes]. Dissertation, Department of Education, University of
Stockholm. Edsbruk: Akademitryck.
Carlberg, G. (2010). Focused systematic case studies – An approach
linking clinical work and research. I J. Tsiantis & J. Trowell (Eds.),
Assessing change in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy of children and
adolescents: Today's Challenge, EFPP Monograph, London: Karnac.
Turning-points in child
psychotherapy.
MEMORIES OF SIGNIFICANT EPISODES IN PSYCHODYNAMIC
CHILD PSYCHOTHERAPY
2004 – 2007
Project leader: Gunnar Carlberg PhD, Associate Professor,
licensed psychologist and psychotherapist and Director of the Erica
Foundation.
Aim. To study psychotherapists’ memories of significant episodes
in relation to experiences of process and outcome in child psychotherapy.
Method. Therapists (n=31) were asked to retrieve emotionally
valenced therapy episodes by using an autobiographical memory approach,
with cue words to elicit specific episodes (e.g. irritated, ashamed,
loving, and elated).
Results. All participants were able to retrieve memories of
episodes. When asked to rate each memory, negative memories were
returned to less often, and overall positive memories were rated as more
easy to recall and more vivid. Memories derived from positive cue words
also were judged to have a more positive importance for outcome compared
to negative. Surprisingly, memories derived from the cue word
irritated were seen as having more positive than negative importance
for outcome.
References.
Andersson, G., Boalt Boethius, S. Svirsky, L. & Carlberg, G. (2006)
Memories of significant episodes in child psychotherapy: An
autobiographical approach, Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory,
Research and Practice, 79:229-36.
The Erica Process and Outcome Study (EPOS)
2001 2011
Project leader: Gunnar Carlberg PhD, Associate Professor,
licensed psychologist and psychotherapist and Director of the Erica
Foundation.
Project co-ordinator: Fredrik Odhammar, licensed psychologist and
psychotherapist at the Erica Foundation, PhD student.
Aim: To study outcome and process in "goal directed, time-limited
child psychotherapy with parallel parental counselling".
Method: Extensive data was collected from 38 cases. Child
guidance clinics from different parts of Sweden and Denmark were
involved in the project. The children were between 5 and 10 years of age
at the beginning of therapy. Therapy frequency was 1-2 sessions a week
with duration of 1-2 years. The parents met their counsellor once a week
or at least every fortnight. Therapists and parents formulated goals and
frames for the therapies as carefully as possible at the start of
therapy.
Besides questionnaires, interviews and routine psychological
assessment at the start of therapy the following instruments was
used: DSM-IV, HCAM–The Hampstead Child Adaption Measure, and
SDQ–Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (parent and teacher
versions). The same instruments were used after therapy. In connection
with each session the child psychotherapist and the parental counsellor
made process notes and completed a form, FWC–Feeling Word Checklist.
Data collection has been completed.
Financial support: The study is supported by a research grant
from Stiftelsen Marcus and Amalia Wallenbergs Minnesfond.
References:
Carlberg, G, Thorén, A, Billström, S. & Odhammar, F. (2009).
Children’s expectations and experiences of psychodynamic child
psychotherapy, Journal of Child Psychotherapy. 35 (2), 175-193.
Carlberg, G. (2009). Exploring change processes in psychodynamic
child psychotherapy: The therapists’ perspective. I N. Midgley et al.
(Red.) Child Psychotherapy and Research: New Approaches, Emerging
Findings, London: Routledge.. 35 (2), 175-193.
Maar, V, Poulsen, D., Dittmann, H., Gregersen, R. & Bentz, M. (2007).
Terapeutisk alliance i forældrebehandling. [Abstract in English:
Therapeutic alliance in treatment of parents.] Matrix, 24, 4-30.
Odhammar, F., Carlberg, G., Sundin, E.C. & Jonsson, M. (2011). Children
in psychodynamic psychotherapy. Changes in global functioning.
Journal of Child Psychoterapy, 37 (3), 261-279.
OUTCOME IN PSYCHODYNAMIC CHILD AND ADOLESCENT
PSYCHOTHERAPY
2004 – ongoing
Project leader: Gunnar Carlberg PhD, Associate Professor,
licensed psychologist and psychotherapist and Director of the Erica
Foundation.
Project co-ordinator: Anders Shiöler, licensed psychologist and
psychotherapist at the Erica Foundation.
Aim. To study outcome in child psychotherapy (4-12 years of age
at start of therapy ≥ 10 sessions) and psychotherapies with young people
(16-24 years at start of therapy ≥ 10 sessions).
Method. Data is continuously collected from child and adolescent
psychotherapies. Pre- and post measures with CGAS/GAF, SDQ, DSM-IV,
SCL-90. The database contains approximately 200 child psychotherapies
and 150 psychotherapies with adolescents and young people (Dec. 2010).
Results. Published reports and master thesis (in Swedish).
International publications planned.
Financial support: The study is supported by
Gålöstiftelsen.
SHORT-TERM PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
2007 – 2012
Project leader: Agneta Thorén PhD, licensed psychologist and
psychotherapist at the Erica Foundation.
Aim. To study process and outcome in time limited psychotherapy
(12 sessions) with children (5-9 years of age) and young people (16-24
years of age).
Method. In this study the process of change is
followed with the help of various specific research instruments,
questionnaires and interviews. Waiting-list control is part of the
project. Besides routine psychological assessment at the start of
therapy the following instruments are used: DSM-IV, CGAS/GAF,
SCL-90, SDQ (parent and teacher versions). The same instruments are used
after therapy. In connection with each session the child psychotherapist
and the parental counsellor make process notes and complete a form, FWC–Feeling
Word Checklist and a "process-diary", in order to follow the therapists'
counter-transference feelings, work with central theme/focus of each
therapy. Data will be analysed using both qualitative and quantitative
methods.
Time schedule: Collection of data started in
2009. Data collection will be completed 2011.
Financial support: The study is supported by a
research grant from Stockholm City Council.
Results. Published reports and master thesis (in Swedish).
International publications planned.
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Publications in Swedish
A series of reports and articles have been published.
Examples of topics:
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Children´s expectations and experiences of psychodynamic child
psychotherapy.
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The child psychotherapist´s countertransference feelings.
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Counter-transference in psychotherapy with children and
adolescents.
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Work with parents.
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Group supervision.
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Evaluation of the Erica Foundation´s course in the
psychodiagnostic evaluation of children.
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Emotional learning.
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Description and analysis of the role of course tutor in a
psychotherapy training program.
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The CAT (Children´s Apperception Test).
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The Machover method. A handbook with a development theory
perspective. -
A historical account of the Erica Foundation´s training in child
psychotherapy.
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Psychotherapy with children and adolescents from a historical
perspective.
Recent publications in English
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Andersson, G., Boalt Boethius, S. Svirsky, L. & Carlberg, G. (2006). Memories of significant episodes in child
psychotherapy: An autobiographical approach, Psychology and
Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 79:229-36.
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Blomberg, B. (2006). Time, space and the
mind: psychotherapy with children with autism. In D. Houzel, & M. Lanyado
(Eds.), Invisible boundaries psychosis and autism in children and
adolecents. EFPP Clinical Book Series. London: Karnac.
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Carlberg, G. (2008). Clinically based
research at the Erica Foundation. Mellanrummet, no 18, 103-109.
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Carlberg, G. (2009). Exploring change
proceses in psychodynamic child psychotherapy. The
therapists´perspectives. In N. Midgley, J. Anderson, E. Grainger, T.
Nesic-Vuckovic & C. Urwin (Eds.)
Child psychotherapy research: New
approaches, emerging, findings: London. Routledge.
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Carlberg, G. (2010). Focused systematic case studies.
An approach linking clinical work and research, In J. Tsiantis &
J.Trowell, (eds.) Assessing change in psychoanalytic psychotherapy of
children and adolescents: Today’s challenge , EFPP Clinical
Book Series. London: Karnac,
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Carlberg, G, Thorén, A, Billström, S. & Odhammar, F. (2009).
Children’s expectations and experiences of
psychodynamic child psychotherapy. Journal of Child Psychotherapy,
35:2, 175-193.
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Carlberg, G.,
Eresund, P. & Boalt Boëthius, S. (2009). Child and Adolescent
Psychotherapy Research. Workshop for Clinicians and Researchers at the
Erica Foundation October 2008. Stockholm: Ericastiftelsen. -
Cleve, E. (2004).
From chaos to coherence:
Psychotherapy with a little boy with ADHD. London: Karnac Books.
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Cleve, E. (2008).
A big and a little is gone.
London Karnac Books. -
Nilsson, M. (2000). The doll´s house:dream or reality?
A borderline girl´s
psychotherapy. Journal of Child Psychotherapy,
26 (1), 79-96.
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Nilsson, M. (2006). To be the sole therapist –
children and parents in simultaneous psychotherapy. Journal of
Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, 5 (2), 206-225. -
Nilsson, M. (2009). Table hockey -
attack or linking? Psychoanalytic psychotherapy with an autistic
boy. Journal of Child Psychotherapy, 35:2, 131-141.
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Odhammar, F., Jonson, M. &
Carlberg, G. (2011). Children in psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Changes in global functioning. Journal of Child Psychotherapy. 37
(3), 261-279. -
Odhammar, F. & Carlberg, G. (2011) Children in psychodynamic
psychotherapy. Changes in global functioning.
14th International Congress of ESCAP
- European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 11-15 June
2011, Helsingfors, Finland.
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Odhammar, F. & Carlberg, G. (2011) Children in psychodynamic
psychotherapy. Changes in global functioning.
EFPP adult section and child & adolescent section 14-16 October,
Krakow, Polen.
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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
