Promoting resilience and agency in children and young people who have experienced domestic violence and abuse: The "MPOWER" intervention

Abstract

The MPOWER programme is a resource oriented intervention to support children and young people (CYP) affected by domestic violence and abuse. It draws on principles from feminist informed systemic family practice and creative therapies. The intervention was delivered in 4 European countries (Greece, Italy, Spain and England), reaching 58 CYP. CYP who participated completed the Children’s Outcome Rating Scale (CORS), and the Children’s Group Session Rating Scale (CGSRS) (Duncan et al., 2003), and a descriptive analysis of this data suggests improvement in subjective wellbeing as CYP moved through this programme. Qualitative interviews were also conducted with 21 CYP, exploring their experience of the group intervention and of its impact in their life. These interviews were analysed thematically (Braun & Clark, 2006). Three themes are discussed: These were “Working Together: Building Trust and Sharing Common Experiences”; “Disclosures, creativity and working with emotions”; and “Roots and Branches: Working with relationships”.