Group effect: participant and nurture specialist support
guilt, ’s behavior, ’, pain, depression
SAID
Nurture specialists facilitate the intervention. They help dyads process unresolved emotions in parent–child relationships and then embrace the calming cycle that ensues from this genuine sharing of emotion, evidenced by the co-occurring peaks of nurture specialist engagement and calming cycles in initial sessions (Fig. Nurture specialists also highlight challenges in either the child or mother’s behavior that affects connecting. In one instance, a nurture specialist encouraged E to address her child’s standoffishness [Observation 5]. E later identified this interaction as a turning point:“I said, well, I think that’s why I came, to be able to liberate myself of this a little…that day we talked about it. From that day, [H*] really changed her way of being, a lot.” [Interview 1]This nurture specialist similarly encouraged C* to express her frustration at her child [N]’s clinging and shyness. C explained to N that she wants her to say ‘hello’ to people:“Nothing happens when you say it! It’s not that hard. Look at me! Look at me!” [Observation 6]The mothers were emotional and perhaps embarrassed when their child’s behavior was discussed, which further encouraged them to tell their child how the behavior was negatively impacting them. In both situations, the mother’s desired outcome of increased child sociability was achieved. C reflected on the importance of this encouragement during her post-group interview:“NS 2, she was the one who made me realize more or less N’s problems, and she made me realize that there was a way I could make N change her thinking, talking to her about my feelings…it worked really well.”A few participants were defensive in response to nurture specialist feedback. For example:NS 1: “She looks sad. Look at her face. She looks sad.”A: “I don’t think she’s sad...” [Observation 3]The following week, the mother reported that she had spent days “practicing, talking, and sharing more” with her child—demonstrating the ultimate efficacy of the session [Observation 4].Participating mothers are an organic source of mutual support given their shared experience. MCEP views fellow group members as a source of empathy, positive reinforcement, and modeling of successful calming cycles. All of these roles were supported by the data. L noted that the group validated her parenting experiences: “…it’s nice to know I’m not the only one having experienced one of those things” [Interview 1]. E similarly reported feeling less worried about problems she was facing at home:“I have become a better person. Some things that I thought were bad, in reality they weren’t…listening to the experiences of the other moms…it’s like I released a little of the burden.” [Interview 1]D and L sat next to or across from each other during three consecutive sessions. In their second neighboring session, after L’s particularly difficult exchange with her child D offered L empathy—a memory of how difficult it was for her when her child B would act up in public [Observation 5]Analysis of the “group effect” demonstrated that MCEP adapts to the various needs of each dyad. D’s primary struggle was guilt from prior experiences of mothering during postpartum depression. The intervention helped her identify this as a source of disconnection and work through her feelings. A was alone in the country because no immediate family came with her when she immigrated five years ago [Observation 8]. Through MCEP, A connected with fellow mothers and nurture specialists and gained the sense of community she craved. According to C and N, with nurture specialist and group member support, they achieved the helpful interdependence that had been escaping them. Furthermore, L was able to finally express her pain to her child. Both dyads achieved mother–child emotional connection [Observation 12]. MCEP participant and nurture specialist support is naturally tailored to dyadic needs, since the entry point of a calming session is a dyad’s interactional challenge.