Having a baby and raising a child is an exciting, yet stressful and challenging time. Many parents often lack confidence in what they are doing. It is easy to feel that there must be a ‘right’ way. You may be asking yourself:

“Am I a good-enough parent?”

“Why don’t I feel a bond with my baby/child?”

“Why does my baby/child behave in this way? I just don’t understand.” 

“How can I have more fun with my baby/child?”

“Have I got enough to give to more than one child?”

“They just shut me out, how do I reach them?”

“Everything I do feels wrong. How do I break this pattern of constant battles?”

VIG can be particularly useful:

• When parents or carers are feeling stuck, rejected or overwhelmed but wish to connect more with their child

• Families with a history of trauma, loss, or attachment disruption. Therefore, with a subsequent need to build or rebuild trust and confidence in the caregiving role.

• Parents of children who are non-verbal, withdrawn, or highly distressed.

• While suitable across age groups, VIG is especially helpful for young children or those with developmental, emotional, or behavioural challenges.

• When talk-based support alone hasn’t been enough and the assistance of video feedback might be helpful.

VIG is used to promote parental or foster carer attunement to their child. Although useful for all families, as illustrated above, VIG is an effective intervention for families on the edge of care, under a Child in Need or Child Protection plan, and for foster or adoptive families.

The principles of how VIG is used with parents and carers is applied in the school context. It is used to promote staff attunement to pupils (including children with special needs), or for staff teams, to promote well-being for staff and pupils, and to support children who have experienced neglect and/or trauma.