TY - JOUR
T1 - Internet-delivered emotion regulation therapy for adolescents engaging in non-suicidal self-injury and their parents
T2 - A qualitative, online focus group study
AU - Christensen, Sofie Heidenheim
AU - Heinrichsen, Michella
AU - Møhl, Bo
AU - Rubæk, Lotte
AU - Byrialsen, Katherine Krage
AU - Ojala, Olivia
AU - Hellner, Clara
AU - Pagsberg, Anne Katrine
AU - Bjureberg, Johan
AU - Morthorst, Britt
N1 - © 2024 The Author(s). Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The British Psychological Society.
PY - 2024/8/15
Y1 - 2024/8/15
N2 - OBJECTIVES: We explore adolescents' and their parents' experiences of internet-based emotion regulation therapy for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI).DESIGN: A qualitative study nested within a controlled feasibility trial.METHODS: Online, semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with outpatient adolescents with NSSI aged 13-17 years (n = 9) and their parents (n = 8) who had received therapist-guided Internet-delivered Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents (IERITA). Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.RESULTS: Three main themes were generated: (1) Fatigue - barriers to and during treatment, comprised of two sub-themes 'Arriving to services exhausted, needing motivation, and leaving feeling abandoned' and 'the burden of IERITA and the consequences of fatigue', (2) inter- and intrapersonal insights as facilitators of change and (3) Online, written contact with the therapist is beneficial and contributes with less pressure, comprised of three sub-themes 'the therapist behind the screen is essential', 'less pressure sitting alone: the physical absence of a therapist' and 'engaging on your own terms, in your own tempo'. Themes were consistent among adolescents and parents.CONCLUSION: Fatigue due to therapeutic engagement and previous help-seeking processes created barriers for engagement. Emotion regulation therapy was experienced as beneficial leading to inter- and intra-personal insights, facilitating change of maladaptive patterns. Therapists were regarded as indispensable, and the internet-based format did not hinder therapeutic alliance. The written format allowed for reflection and alleviated the pressure of relating to the therapist. Further research should explore experiences of other online treatment formats (e.g. synchronous or video-based) with regard to benefits, fatigue and therapist interaction.
AB - OBJECTIVES: We explore adolescents' and their parents' experiences of internet-based emotion regulation therapy for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI).DESIGN: A qualitative study nested within a controlled feasibility trial.METHODS: Online, semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with outpatient adolescents with NSSI aged 13-17 years (n = 9) and their parents (n = 8) who had received therapist-guided Internet-delivered Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents (IERITA). Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.RESULTS: Three main themes were generated: (1) Fatigue - barriers to and during treatment, comprised of two sub-themes 'Arriving to services exhausted, needing motivation, and leaving feeling abandoned' and 'the burden of IERITA and the consequences of fatigue', (2) inter- and intrapersonal insights as facilitators of change and (3) Online, written contact with the therapist is beneficial and contributes with less pressure, comprised of three sub-themes 'the therapist behind the screen is essential', 'less pressure sitting alone: the physical absence of a therapist' and 'engaging on your own terms, in your own tempo'. Themes were consistent among adolescents and parents.CONCLUSION: Fatigue due to therapeutic engagement and previous help-seeking processes created barriers for engagement. Emotion regulation therapy was experienced as beneficial leading to inter- and intra-personal insights, facilitating change of maladaptive patterns. Therapists were regarded as indispensable, and the internet-based format did not hinder therapeutic alliance. The written format allowed for reflection and alleviated the pressure of relating to the therapist. Further research should explore experiences of other online treatment formats (e.g. synchronous or video-based) with regard to benefits, fatigue and therapist interaction.
KW - emotion regulation therapy
KW - family, online focus group
KW - online treatment
KW - qualitative study
KW - self-harm
KW - youth
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85201278726&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/papt.12541
DO - 10.1111/papt.12541
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 39148399
SN - 1476-0835
JO - Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice
JF - Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice
ER -