THE ROLE OF REFLECTIVE FUNCTION IN INTERVENTION WITH PARENTS IN SITUATION OF CHILD NEGLECT
Reflective function (RF) that parents play in their children's development is an important dimension of parental adaptation affected by situations of child neglect. The parents’ ability to mentalize represents the central element of this RF. Over the last 30 years, a considerable amount of research has shown the limits of intervention models for improving parenting in situations of neglect. However, several of these studies also suggest that the ability of parents to mentalize is probably the main element to consider in these situations. What are the main characteristics of an intervention approach that seeks to support the mentalization and RF of parents in the families that face child neglect? What are clinical issues raised in the application of this approach to improve parenting in these situations? This paper aims to present answers to these questions. It concludes by presenting the challenges that faces the implementation of an approach to support the capacity of parents to mentalize within the institutional settings of child protection.