Parent–Child Dynamics in Vulnerable Families

Commentators have long emphasised the importance of clinicians addressing interactions or dynamics that occur between parents and children in vulnerable families. This chapter makes a contribution by describing a set of parent–child dynamics that occur commonly in vulnerable families, and that are harmful for children. A range of dynamics is identified in terms of: (a) sets of parental behaviours; (b) sets of children’s behaviours; (c) descriptions of negative impacts of a dynamic on children; and (d) distinct interventions that are recommended to improve harmful dynamics.