A new study has explored the knowledge and skills that can help therapists support people living with dementia and their families, with the aim of improving the quality and accessibility of psychological support.

The research brought together people living with dementia, family members and professionals, including counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists, to develop a framework of competences for therapeutic work in this area.

BACP Research Fellow Jenny O’Donnell, a collaborator on the study¹, which was funded by Alzheimer’s UK, and co-author of the article published in Counselling and Psychotherapy Research said:

“People affected by dementia told us they value therapy, but sometimes feel their therapist is not responsive to their specific needs. This research explores the knowledge and skills that can help therapists provide appropriate, person-centred support.”

The framework is available online and offers guidance that may be useful to therapists working in dementia-related settings or looking to develop their practice in this area.

Dementia affects around 57 million people worldwide. Alongside medical care, psychological support can play an important role in helping people live well with the condition.

Understanding people’s experiences of therapy

People living with dementia and their families who took part in the study described varied experiences of therapy.

Some spoke about feeling supported and understood, while others said they had needed to explain their diagnosis to their therapist or felt that services did not fully meet their needs.

The findings highlight the importance of understanding how dementia can affect people’s experiences of therapy, and how therapeutic approaches may need to be adapted to meet their individual needs.

Developing the framework with people affected by dementia

Researchers worked directly with people living with dementia, family members and therapists to develop the framework.

This included interviews and group workshops, where participants explored what makes therapy helpful. Creative approaches such as drawing, writing and Lego-based activities helped people share their experiences in accessible ways.

The aim was to ensure the framework reflects the experiences and priorities of people living with dementia and their families.

What the framework covers

The framework sets out knowledge and skills that may be relevant to therapists working with people affected by dementia. These include:

• Understanding how dementia can affect thinking, emotions and communication.
• Adapting therapy to make sessions easier to follow and engage with.
• Building trusting and supportive therapeutic relationships.
• Considering family relationships and involving family members where helpful and appropriate.

It includes different levels of knowledge and skills, from broader understanding to more specialist competences for therapists working directly with people living with dementia and their families.

Although this isn’t a BACP competence framework, it may be a useful resource for members looking to develop their practice in this area, particularly those working in specialist dementia provision or seeking to build their knowledge and skills.

It may also be relevant to professionals involved in service management, training and supervision.

Informing therapeutic practice

The research highlights the importance of adapting therapeutic work to the needs and circumstances of people living with dementia. This may include making sessions more accessible, considering the impact of dementia on engagement and communication, and recognising the effect of the condition on family and other close relationships.

The framework also explores approaches to working with families, reflecting how dementia can affect relationships and the wider family context.

For therapists, the findings offer an opportunity to reflect on how their knowledge, skills and ways of working can support people affected by dementia, particularly when working in specialist settings or developing expertise in this area.

Supporting people affected by dementia

The study adds to the discussion about how counselling and psychotherapy can respond to the needs of people living with dementia and their families.

Jenny said:

“Ultimately, the aim is to improve access to meaningful psychological support and help people living with dementia feel more understood and supported in therapy.”

1. The open-access study, Developing Core Competences for Working Therapeutically With People With Dementia and Their Families, was authored by Divine Charura, Sophie Jeffery, Yelena Mikhaylova-O'Connell, Esther Whittlesea Reed, Cara Gates, Warren James Donnellan, Heather Wilkinson, Jenny O'Donnell, Sarah Butchard, Louis Stokes, Peter Ball and Alys Wyn Griffiths.

Read the study in Counselling and Psychotherapy Research.