Taking Control: A Single Case Study of Mellow Parenting

Abstract

A single case study is presented illustrating the theoretic approach and practical implementation of Mellow Parenting, a group intervention for families of young children where there are parenting problems. The parents in this case had a long history of marital violence, and, following the breakdown of their relationship, the father continued to terrorize the family, with adverse effects on the mother's and children's mental health. The mother felt unable to relate to her son, aged 2, because of her own profound depression and the similarity between him and her former partner. He had marked eating problems and her daughter had been referred to child psychiatry with severe separation and sleeping problems. In the course of the group, the mother grew in confidence and began to separate her feelings about her partner from the needs of her young son. A one year follow-up showed that she had been able to move away from the area, make a secure and affectionate base for her children and begin a course of adult education to further her career. The combination of support for herself and practical parenting workshops was effective both in her own emotional containment and in mobilizing her ability to contain her children's distress.