Table 4.
Themes and illustrative quotes from thematic analysis.
| Theme | Number of Participants Mentioned | Illustrative Quotes |
|---|---|---|
| Family involvement in IA intervention is challenging yet important | 8 | Example 1: In many IA cases, the adolescent is not my sole client. Instead, I typically provide services to the entire family and tend to involve family members throughout the treatment process (Participant 7). Example 2: I believe family involvement in the treatment process can bring positive outcomes. While the situation may become more complicated and difficult with some malfunctioning families, it is important for the parents to adjust and participate in the intervention (Participant 4). |
| Shifting the focus from the adolescent to the relationship | 6 | Example 3: When I invite parents to join the counseling session, my aim focuses on improving their parent–child relationship, which I believe would be helpful in reducing the client’s IA behaviors (Participant 2). Example 4: Parent–child relationship is usually a more pronounced problem in comparison to IA when family members are involved in the treatment process. Rebuilding a healthy relationship and fostering constructive communication are my primary goals (Participant 9). |
| Provision of individualized services and intervention to address the heterogeneous nature of cases | 8 | Example 5: I do not have a standardized approach or therapeutic orientation in handling IA cases. Depending on the age and needs of the client and family members, as well as the goals of the intervention, I adopt a mix of different approaches. For instance, motivational interviewing is more suitable for encouraging engagement while cognitive-behavioral therapy can help identify distorted thoughts and initiate behavioral change (Participant 8). Example 6: The client’s needs and treatment goals are my major considerations when deciding whether family involvement is beneficial to the intervention process. Family relationship is another critical factor that determines if conjoint therapy sessions would be appropriate (Participant 3). |