Circle of Security Parenting; a qualitative investigation into the perceived long-term impact on parenting in Plymouth, United Kingdom

Parenting is a unique experience for every family and improving this experience for both the child and the parent has long-term benefits for giving the child the best opportunities for the future. Attachment has been noted as a factor which improves a child's development and other areas of their life with a lasting effect into adulthood. An example of interventions used to improve parent-child relationships are parenting courses. Circle of Security Parenting is an 8-week parenting course designed to support attachment by encouraging a group of between four and six parents to reflect on their own childhood and subsequently their parenting styles and methods. The aim of this current research was to gain insight into the perceived impact of the Circle of Security Parenting course 12-18 months after completion of the course, through in-depth structured interviews with five parents who completed the course in the academic year 2022-2023. Six themes were identified using Thematic Analysis and reviewed to gain insight into the research question; Support from the course, Reframing what the parents already do, Feeling empowered, more in tune with the child, acknowledging the improvements still to make and Praise for the course. These themes highlighted the importance of reflection on the course content and revealed that the Circle of Security Visual Support was recalled by the participants without prompting. This research contributes to the research gap surrounding the lasting impact of parenting interventions.