What can be learned from comparing a Child Psychotherapist's Experience of a Children's Psychotherapy Group with Narrative Accounts of Foster Carers Describing the Same Children in their Care?

This research project explores a child psychotherapist’s experience of a children’s psychotherapy group with five, infant school age, ‘looked after children’ with early experiences of neglect, trauma and disruption. These children have experiences of multiple placements either in their family of origin or since coming into care. They are all in transition awaiting decisions about future adoptive or long-term foster placements.
The research project considers the experiences of both the children and their foster carers. It asks what can be learned from comparing a child psychotherapist’s experience of the children in a children’s psychotherapy group with the narrative accounts of foster carers describing the same children in their care? With this question in mind, the research project uses a ten-week children’s psychotherapy group and semi-structured interviews with the children’s foster carers to examine the relationships these children form within the group and with their foster carers.
The research project aims to capture the emotional experience of being with young ‘looked after children’, living in foster care and awaiting decisions regarding placement and the prospect of yet further placement moves. The study reflects on whether gathering information on the foster carer’s experience would be useful in planning future support for both the children and their foster carers. Do these comparisons provide valuable information that helps facilitate decision-making within the professional networks maintaining both the children and their foster carers?