Effects of outsider witness practice on a support group for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Providing effective support to parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an important part of clinical work. This study used outsider witnesses in group counselling for parents of children with ASD and explored the mechanism through which the therapeutic effects occurred.

Method

Parents of children diagnosed with ASD participated in an eight-session group activity. Two outsider witnesses were introduced into some of the sessions. The participants were interviewed to collect their experiences of and reflections on the outsider-witness practice. Texts were analysed using the categorical content approach.

Results

The intervention was effective because the participants shifted their subjective experiences to an objective position, leading them to reflect on their previous limited perspectives, thus resulting in self-redefinition. These therapeutic effects may arise due to physical displacement, experience resonance, and externalization of subjective experiences. The results of this study have important implications for parents and practitioners.

KEYWORDS:

• Outsider witness
• narrative therapy
• group counselling
• ASD
• autism spectrum disorder

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2196822.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Shu-He Chao

Shu-He Chao is an assist professor of Department of Psychology of Soochow University in Taiwan. Her expertise is mainly in the study of psychological counselling and qualitative research.

Ping-Hwa Chen

Ping-Hwa Chen is a professor of Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling of National Taiwan Normal University in Taiwan. Her expertise is mainly in the study of cultural diversity and psychological counselling.