"Talk to me like I'm a human" - an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the psychotherapy experiences of young people in foster care

Many young people in foster care experience significant mental health difficulties, leading to attendance at services where offering psychotherapeutic input that adequately meets their unique and diverse needs is an ongoing challenge. To date, the research on adolescents’ experiences of psychotherapy has mainly drawn on mental health populations. There is a dearth of research exploring the experiences of young people in foster care, specifically, their experiences of therapeutic engagement. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study reports on the psychotherapy experiences of young people in foster care. Individual interviews were conducted with seven young people in foster care and four superordinate themes were identified: Being Powerless; Risking Relationship; Opening Up; and Finding Connection. Young people revealed complex and individual experiences where they felt disempowered, drew on their courage to gradually build trust in therapists, were able to share their innermost thoughts and feelings and established deeper connections with themselves and others. This lived experience, illustrating a journey of relational connection aligns with recognition theory (Honneth, 1995, 1996) in highlighting young people’s need for authentic recognition as individuals in their totality, who desired psychotherapy that offered emotional connection and opportunities for systemic relational growth. The study illuminates the inherent challenges, as well as informing practice about how to engage with young people in foster care in a meaningful and helpful way.