How does video interaction guidance contribute to infant and parental mental health and well-being?

Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2017 Jul;22(3):500-517. doi: 10.1177/1359104517704026. Epub 2017 Apr 27.

Abstract

This article describes the contribution of video interaction guidance (VIG) to the development of infant and parental and VIG practitioners' mental health and well-being. The theoretical core of VIG was depicted in terms of concepts such as intersubjectivity, attunement and mediated learning. The way the VIG principles alongside the underpinning values and beliefs promote a process of attunement between parent and infant, the VIG practitioner and parent, and the VIG practitioner and supervisor is described. This article also describes some of the evidence about the effectiveness of video feedback techniques more generally and the way in which the underpinning theory of change enables VIG to target key ports of entry in terms of areas that have been highlighted by numerous epidemiological studies as being important in terms of supporting or derailing infant attachment security. A case study is used to demonstrate the way in which VIG can be integrated within broader therapeutic approaches such as parent-infant psychotherapy to support the interaction of parents who have been deeply traumatised in childhood. It also demonstrates how the parallel process of practitioner 'attunement' to mother is key to the mother's recovery and her new ability to form attuned relationships herself with her children and other adults.

Keywords: Video interaction guidance; attunement; infant mental health; intersubjectivity; parent–infant interaction.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Mental Health*
  • Object Attachment
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Personal Satisfaction*