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Abstract

This thesis addresses a critical gap in the existing literature on the emotional well-being of parents of autistic children by applying SAFE family therapy activities grounded in the Narrative Attachment Therapy approach through a three-cycle action research design. Stage 1 involved 3 parents as primary participants, with their children present during selected sessions. Stage 2 included 2 families; the primary focus was on 3 parents across these families. Stage 3 engaged 5 therapists. Data were collected through interviews, diaries, questionnaires and therapy recordings. Data from interviews and journals were analysed thematically, whereas questionnaires were analysed idiographically. The first and second stages targeted the same research questions (RQ1 and RQ2) but involved different participants and settings. The first stage consisted of applying SAFE activities within 8-week workshops. The second stage involved two case studies conducted through individual family therapy sessions, where earlier findings were deepened and extended. In the third and final stage, qualitative methods, including interviews with therapists, were employed to explore RQ3. Parents reported noticeable changes in their experiences related to their emotional well being, family relationships, and their ability to step back and reflect on their children after using the activities. Additionally, therapists’ qualitative views provided a holistic understanding of the emotional well-being of parents of autistic children. This thesis highlights the importance of improving the emotional well-being of parents of autistic children through practical tools. SAFE family therapy activities seem promising for 5 improving some aspects of parents’ emotional well-being; however, further exploration with larger and more diverse populations is needed to enhance generalisability.

Awarding Institution(s)

University of Plymouth

Supervisor

Becky Stancer, Rudi Dallos, Tara Vassallo

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

2026

Embargo Period

2026-07-24

Deposit Date

July 2026

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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