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MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Health visitors in Solihull now have access to a systematic approach to working with children with behavioural problems. The authors, HAZEL DOUGLAS and MICHELLE GINTY, explain the background to the approach and some of the benefits it brings to practice
The Solihull Approach is a psychotherapeutic and behavioural approach for health visitors working with children with sleeping, feeding, toileting and behavioural difficulties. It has been developed over the past three years by project groups of health visitors, child psychologists and child psychotherapists. Other professionals have also contributed their expertise when necessary.
The project began in response to a request for sleep clinics. All health visitors in the area had children with sleep difficulties on their case-load and they required resources and training to support them in managing these children. Following a literature search and extensive networking across the country, a resource pack was compiled. Project group members supplemented this with training for their colleagues. The approach was so successful that the health visitors requested that the same process be carried out for children with eating, toileting and behavioural problems.
As the work evolved in response to the needs of the health visitors in improving their practice, it became clear that the project was in step with national initiatives, for example, Sure Start1 and the consultation document Supporting Families.2
Theoretical model
The project resulted in the evolution of a strong theoretical model, together with a comprehensive resource pack. The theoretical model is intensely practical, in that each component informs practice. None of the theory is new, but what is new is the combination of different theoretical ideas into one model and the extension of them all into practice.
The theoretical model has three conponents:
containment
reciprocity
behaviour management.
Containment
This is a theory from the psychoanalytical tradition. It was developed by Bion,3 based on the work of Freud and is the most influential concept within psycho-analytical theory.4 Containment describes the process whereby the parent is able to help the child process intense emotions and anxiety, rather than the child being overwhelmed by them.
This helps to develop the child's capacity to think. The idea of applying this theory to the work of health visitors became accessible through the work...