Introduction: Effective and evidenced based treatments targeting young children exposed to domestic violence are scarce in Sweden and Norway. Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is a treatment model validated for work with young children and their caregiver(s) suffering from the consequences of domestic violence. CPP was introduced in Sweden as part of a research project concerning treatment methods for children exposed to violence, financed by the Swedish Board of Health and Welfare. CPP was not previously practiced in Sweden. 

Method: The implementation process of CPP in Sweden and Norway has included training of therapists, training of trainers and research. During 2013 – 2015 the first training of therapists in was realized in cooperation with the Child Trauma Research Program, University of California, San Francisco. A feasibility study, conducted in conjunction with the training, indicated that the dissemination of CPP was appropriate without particular adjustments to the Swedish cultural context, and that the method was appreciated by clinicians and families. The observed effects from the feasibility study indicated that the positive results from international (US) studies may be replicated in a Swedish context. The results from this study contributed to the decision in 2016 from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare to support the implementation of CPP in Sweden.

Results: To date three cohorts of clinicians have been trained in Sweden and training of Swedish trainers has been completed. The second cohort included participants from Norway, and subsequently a first training of clinicians has been completed in Norway. An effectiveness study is ongoing. Additionally a Nordic network has been established to scaffold training, implementation and sustainability of CPP in the Nordic countries.

Discussion: It was evident that CPP fills a gap in child and adolescent psychiatry in Sweden and Norway. Challenges and facilitators in the process of implementation will be discussed.