Lighthouse Parenting Nanai: a Mentalization-based Group Therapy for Caregivers with History of Trauma

This study is a feasibility randomized controlled trial designed to assess the Lighthouse Mentalization-Based Treatment Parenting Program (Lighthouse MBT-P) for parents who are at risk of maltreating their children. The Lighthouse MBT-P program is specifically tailored for parents with a history of trauma and aims to enhance their mentalizing abilities-helping them better understand and reflect on their own and their children's emotions and thoughts. By improving these skills, the program intends to strengthen parent-child relationships, reduce parenting stress, and ultimately decrease the risk of child maltreatment.

Study Design:

The study is being conducted at Diego Portales University in Santiago, Chile, with a total of 60 participants who will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the intervention group receiving the Lighthouse MBT-P program and a control group receiving standard psychoeducational support. The intervention will consist of weekly 2-hour group sessions over 12 weeks, where participants will engage in psychoeducation and reflective discussions, facilitated by trained psychologists. These sessions aim to provide parents with the tools to improve their emotional regulation, understand their children's needs better, and develop healthier parenting practices.

Study Phases:

Cultural Adaptation: The Lighthouse MBT-P program has been culturally adapted to ensure its relevance and effectiveness within the Chilean context. This phase involved consultations with local experts, community stakeholders, and pilot testing with a small group of parents to refine the intervention content and delivery methods.

Clinician Training: Therapists who will deliver the Lighthouse MBT-P program have completed a comprehensive training program, including a three-day workshop and ongoing bi-weekly supervision by an MBT specialist. This training ensures that the intervention will be delivered consistently and effectively, adhering to the principles of mentalization-based treatment.

Intervention Delivery: The intervention group will participate in the Lighthouse MBT-P sessions, focusing on enhancing parental mentalizing abilities. The content will cover topics such as emotional regulation, understanding children's behaviors, and managing stress in parenting. Sessions will be conducted online, allowing for greater accessibility for participants.

Data Collection: Data will be collected at multiple time points, including baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up, to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the program, as well as preliminary indicators of its effectiveness in reducing parenting stress and improving parent-child relationships.

Analysis and Interpretation: The data collected will be analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods to determine the feasibility of the program and to identify any barriers or facilitators to its implementation. The results will inform decisions about whether to proceed with a full-scale randomized controlled trial and guide any necessary adjustments to the program.

Significance:

This study addresses a critical gap in the availability of trauma-informed, attachment-based interventions for parents at risk of child maltreatment in Chile. By evaluating the feasibility of the Lighthouse MBT-P program, this research aims to provide a foundation for larger-scale interventions that could significantly impact the prevention of child maltreatment and improve the well-being of vulnerable families.

Inclusion criteria

• Biological parents of children (0-36 months old) with custody of their child.
• Parents who have gone through adverse childhood experiences, have a history of parental substance abuse or incarceration, have current exposure to relationship violence, or social isolation, or have lost custody of a child in the past.
• Parents must be over the age of 18.

Exclusion criteria

• Parents who are unable to provide informed consent due to mental or cognitive impairment,
• Parents not fluent in Spanish.
• Child's diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder or severe cognitive delay.