Linking theory with practice
How can academics bridge the gap between theory and practice, particularly in hands-on areas such as care for the elderly or people with learning disabilities or support for parents looking after children with emotional and behavioural difficulties?
It is a problem which has long interested Angie Hart, who has for many years straddled the academic, practitioner and service user world. Alongside her role as Professor of Child, Family and Community Health at the Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research, she works as a child and family therapist, until very recently managing a caseload of 26 children with complex mental health difficulties. Being the adoptive parent of three children with special needs adopted from the care system, also gives her valuable personal experience to draw on.
One solution to bridging the practice-theory divide is through innovative partnerships with community groups, something which Professor Hart has been involved in for many years. She has a long history of studying inequalities in health, and her current main research area is child and family resilience – combining academic knowledge with practice experience and user involvement. Between 2004–2007 she coinnovated Resilient Therapy™.
This is a new therapeutic methodology designed to help children, young people and their families find ways to keep positive when living amidst persistent disadvantage. Professor Hart's research, initially published as Resilient Therapy: Working with Children and Families, is co-authored with psychiatrist Derek Blincow and family therapist Helen Thomas. Resilient Therapy™ combines practice wisdom with research knowledge to develop a handy toolkit for practitioners, parents and young people.
The ideas are broken down into separate 'compartments' covering the basic material necessities of life, the need for children to belong, helping children cope with adversity, optimal learning and deep issues about the development of our personal self. Within these compartments issues explored include the need for children to understand boundaries, be able to self-soothe, but also lean on others when required. Resilient Therapy™ also emphasises the need for a child to have exposure to as many healthy relationships as possible and to be instilled with a sense of hope.
The book shows how the methodology works in real-life situations, citing case studies of children and families living with multiple challenges including poverty, disability, mental illness and abuse. It also helps practitioners and welfare organisations develop greater resilience. Professor Hart and colleagues have made a film about their work, and following on from this first book, Professor Hart teamed up with voluntary sector worker Kim Aumann to write a very accessible version of the research, Helping children with complex needs bounce back: Resilient Therapy™ for parents and professionals.
Find out more
Visit the Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research website.
