Parent Perspectives on Clinician-Client Relationship in Speech-Language Treatment for Children

The study evaluates the role of parents in clinician-client relationship in speech-language treatment for children. Both qualitative and quantitative data has been considered and thematic analysis has been performed. Findings suggest that the clinical setting influences the relationship and enhances it through mutual bond, emotions and care.

PARENT PERSPECTIVES ON THE CLINICIAN-CLIENT
RELATIONSHIP IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE TREATMENT FOR
CHILDREN

Table of Contents
1.0 Objective....................................................................................................................................3
2.0 Abstract......................................................................................................................................3
3.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................4
4.0 Methods.....................................................................................................................................4
5.0 Results........................................................................................................................................4
6.0 Discussion..................................................................................................................................5
7.0 Conclusion.................................................................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................6
Appendices......................................................................................................................................7
Appendix 1: Median total relationship rating by treatment setting.............................................7
Appendix 2: Thematic map of parent responses..........................................................................8
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1.0 Objective
The relationship between a clinician and a client is of primary importance in behavioural
treatments. Such relationship, however, gets influenced in the case where the clients are children
as the understanding the problems, identification of issues and patterns may not be very easily
detectable (Kovarsky, Schiemer & Murray, 2011). In such cases, parents play a critical role in
helping the clinician (Shirk, Karver & Brown, 2011). In other words, the role of parents in a
speech-language treatment is inevitable and the entire objective of the current study is to evaluate
such roles based on the analysis of researched data and respective findings. As a result, the
researcher has formed the research questions which focus on the parents’ perspectives as to
whether their rating varies as per the variables like length or complexities of the treatment etc.
Also, the researcher will attempt to find the answer as to what may enhance the clinician-client
relationship for children’s speech language-based treatments.
2.0 Abstract
Since the role clinician-client relationship is majorly influenced by the parents in case of speech-
language based treatment for children, the extent of such influences may be analysed based on
the results obtained through a planned survey by way of a questionnaire. The essence of the
instant research revolves around the evaluation of such implication of the parents in a clinician-
client relationship and establishment of parents’ perspective on the clinicians as well as the
clients or children. While doing so, both the qualitative and quantitative data has been considered
and thematic analysis has been performed.
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3.0 Introduction
There is a number of determinants of clinician-client relationships which affects the bonding and
interaction between two parties. He past researches have suggested that the extent of such
bonding may vary based on the time period for which the relationship has been rated by the
parents. In addition, the ethnicity of the parents and clinicians also matter as two people from
different ethnicities may rate adversely each other (Fanning, 2018).
4.0 Methods
The researcher undertook an online survey through Survey Monkey with three sections of the
survey namely background questions, rating scale and open-ended questions. The survey was
distributed among advocacy organizations and a total of 179 responses were received. The
answers of open-ended questions were analysed through qualitative approach using thematic
analysis. On the other hand, quantitative analysis was conducted for establishing the correlation
between the total relationship rating and length of the treatment and such correlation was
established through Spearman's correlation method (Ebert, 2018).
5.0 Results
As far as the findings out of quantitative analysis were concerned, it was noted that there was no
significant correlation between the length of the treatment and overall relationship rating.
However, the treatment setting used to influence the relationship and hospitals and private clinics
had most influences on the relationship rating as compared to home or schools. Qualitative
analysis, on the other hand, generated 33 codes and 4 major themes which suggested that the
emotional bond between two parties played an important role in developing a clinician-client
relationship (Jack, 2018).
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6.0 Discussion
The findings show that the clinical setting influences the relationship and enhances the
relationship through mutual bond, emotions and care. The treatment setting may be valued if the
clinician may make the same fun-filled for the children. Parents may also get pleasure seeing that
their children are enjoying the treatment (Ebert, 2018).
7.0 Conclusion
Based on the discussion and analysis performed herein, it may be concluded that the parents’
perspectives play an important role in a clinician-client relationship for the treatment of the
children. Though the intended research suffers from certain inherent limitations like the
drawback of thematic analysis of the written answers to the open-ended questions by the
respondent, limitations of sample size, biases of the respondents etc, it may be construed that the
findings of the research may provide a detailed scope for further research on the consideration
that parents' role is critical on clinician-client relationship (Ebert, 2018).
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References
Ebert, K. (2018). Parent perspectives on the clinician-client relationship in speech-language
treatment for children. Journal Of Communication Disorders, 73, 25-33. doi:
10.1016/j.jcomdis.2018.03.005
Fanning, P. (2018). The New Relationship Between Parents and Schools. Focus On Exceptional
Children, 9(5). doi: 10.17161/fec.v9i5.7131
Jack, R. (2018). Quantifying the Clinician-Client Relationship. ASHA Leader, 23(9), online only.
doi: 10.1044/leader.fq.23092018.np
Kovarsky, D., Schiemer, C., & Murray, A. (2011). Humour, Rapport, and Uncomfortable
Moments in Interactions With Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury. Topics In Language
Disorders, 31(4), 325-335. doi: 10.1097/tld.0b013e3182358e98
Shirk, S., Karver, M., & Brown, R. (2011). The alliance in child and adolescent
psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, 48(1), 17-24. doi: 10.1037/a0022181
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Appendices
Appendix 1: Median total relationship rating by treatment setting
.
Figure 1: Median total relationship rating by treatment setting
(Source: Ebert, 2018)
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Appendix 2: Thematic map of parent responses
Figure 2: Thematic map of parent responses
(Source: Ebert, 2018)
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