Parents’ experiences in an integrative treatment model for high-conflict divorce: Acceptability and appropriateness of For2Parents program

Intervention in high-conflict divorces is highly relevant across social, clinical, economic, and public health domains. Through thematic analysis, this qualitative study explores a novel intervention program for divorcing parents experiencing high-conflict in Portugal. It aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the helpful factors underlying the acceptability and appropriateness of the integrative and multisystemic For2Parents Program. A sample of eight co-parents responded to an open-ended, multi-topic survey questionnaire after completing the treatment and 12 months later. Helpful factors were summarized in five themes across four implementation stages categories – at referral and intake, during intervention delivery, after the intervention, and post-intervention follow-up; and three temporal perspectives – prospectively, concurrently, retrospectively. The themes identified were: feeling supported in the first contact with the therapist; finding therapeutic reasons to engage in the change process; experiencing significant coparenting changes in daily real-life; living the sustainable benefits of intervention (including during Covid-19 pandemic); and sharing lessons learned and advice. These findings align with prior acceptability research and extend it to this treatment and population. Acceptable and appropriate interventions, which could reduce conflict and improve coparenting in “real-world” life, were evidenced by the Program. This study informs more effective psychosocial and psychological practices with high-conflict families.