Mentalization-based group intervention for parents of autistic children: insights and case studies

• Strengthening parental mentalization enhances parents’ ability to understand and support their autistic children. • Improved parental emotion regulation contributes to deeper connections and more attuned parenting. • Both parental mentalization and emotion regulation showed significant improvements by the third session of group therapy. • Group therapy not only fostered emotional growth but also led to tangible improvements in parenting techniques. Interventions designed to support families with autistic children often center on the child as the primary agent of change. However, growing research highlights the critical role of parental mental health in shaping both the mental and physical well-being of children. In response to this, we developed Thinking Emotions: a short-term, online, group-based intervention targeting parents as key figures in fostering change. The intervention consisted of four weekly 1.5-hour sessions conducted via Zoom with groups of 8–12 parents of autistic children (ages 2–18) recruited through social media. The sessions focused on fostering parental camaraderie, enhancing parental reflective functioning, and strengthening emotion regulation—skills that are particularly vital for autistic children, who often require additional support in developing their own mentalization and emotional regulation abilities. Parents reported noticeable improvements in their parenting approaches and a deeper understanding of their autistic children as early as the third session. To illustrate the depth of the intervention and the transformative processes parents undergo, we present two detailed case studies: one examining the dynamics and therapeutic impact of the group setting, and another offering an in-depth look at the journey of an individual parent. These case studies provide qualitative insights into the effectiveness of parental interventions in fostering emotional growth and improved parent–child relationships. Findings suggest that interventions targeting parents can serve as a powerful means of supporting families with autistic children. Future research should explore the long-term impact of such interventions and further refine strategies for sustaining parental and familial well-being.