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The development of a parent–child activity based on the principles of perceptual control theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2020

Anamaria Churchman Open the ORCID record for Anamaria Churchman [Opens in a new window] ,
Warren Mansell  and
Sara Tai
Anamaria Churchman*
Affiliation:
Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, CeNTrUM (Centre for New Treatments and Understanding in Mental Health), Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK Mode Rehabilitation, Phoenix House, Bredbury, UK
Warren Mansell
Affiliation:
Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, CeNTrUM (Centre for New Treatments and Understanding in Mental Health), Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Sara Tai
Affiliation:
Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, CeNTrUM (Centre for New Treatments and Understanding in Mental Health), Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
*
*Corresponding author. Email: anamaria.churchman@manchester.ac.uk; churchmanana@gmail.com
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Abstract

Problems most frequently reported by young people in school counselling relate to family difficulties. During adolescence, conflict between parents and young people increases as young people move towards independence whilst still being reliant on parents. The quality of communication during this period has implications for young people’s well-being. The current study explored how the principles of perceptual control theory (PCT) could be used to develop a structured activity aimed at helping young people to talk to their parents about their goals and goal conflicts.

PCT proposes that individuals function well when they are able to control things that are important to them. Every individual has numerous goals/wants and if two or more are incompatible, conflict arises. The current study focused on supporting young people to explore conflict that might arise due to incompatible goals held by them and their parent. Six families (child and parent/carer) were recruited to try a goal-setting and monitoring activity. The activity was facilitated by a Method of Levels researcher over a 10-week period. There were two follow-up appointments at 2 and 4 months. Two families were retained for the entire study. On completion, four families provided qualitative feedback. On the basis of participants’ feedback, the activity was modified to incorporate discussions on incompatible goals. Two families piloted the modified activity and provided feedback. Both families completed the study. Results suggest that a parent–child activity using the principles of PCT is feasible and acceptable among parents and young people.

Key learning aims

  1. (1) To understand how the principles of PCT can be used to support young people in communicating with their parents.

  2. (2) To understand how talking about important goals/wants impacts young people and their parents.

  3. (3) To understand how the principles of PCT can be used to resolve parent–child conflict.

Keywords

communicationconflictgoalsparent–childperceptual control theory
Type
Case Study
Information
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist , Volume 13 , 2020 , e20
Copyright
© British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2020

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References

Further reading

Churchman, A., Mansell, W., & Tai, S. (2020). A school-based case series to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a PCT-informed psychological intervention that combines client-led counselling (method of levels) and a parent–child activity (shared goals). British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, pp. 1–16. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2020.1757622CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Churchman, A., Mansell, W., & Tai, S. (2020). Experiences of adolescents and their guardians with a school-based combined individual and dyadic intervention. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling (in press).Google Scholar
Griffiths, R., Mansell, W., Carey, T. A., Edge, D., Emsley, R., & Tai, S. J. (2019). Method of levels therapy for first‐episode psychosis: the feasibility randomized controlled Next Level trial. Journal of Clinical Psychology, pp. 1–14. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2018.44CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Griffiths, R., Mansell, W., Edge, D., Carey, T. A., Peel, H., & Tai, S. J. (2019). “It was me answering my own questions”: experiences of method of levels therapy amongst people with first-episode psychosis. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28, 721–734. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12576CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jenkins, H., Reid, J., Williams, C., Tai, S., & Huddy, V. (2020). Feasibility and patient experiences of method of levels therapy in an acute mental health inpatient setting. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. Taylor and Francis Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2019.1679928CrossRefGoogle Scholar

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