Video Interaction Guidance

What is Video Interaction Guidance?

Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) is a strengths-based and brief (typically 2-3 months) intervention which helps a parent or carer and child to build their bond and understanding of each other. From a foundation of strengthened relationships and communication, further positive changes can happen for the carer and child.

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How does it work?

The VIG guider takes a short film of a carer and child together and selects a few moments where things are going better than usual. By looking carefully at these moments on film, the carer will be supported to see their strengths and how this is helping their child. This process is repeated 3-5 times in order to support development.

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The VIG guider helps the carer to work towards specific goals. The carer is supported to identify how their strengths they observed in the video clips can be applied more widely in order to reach their goals. 

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VIG can be offered to birth parents, foster carers, adoptive parents, and families within child protection or court proceedings.

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Is there an evidence base?

VIG is proven to be effective at supporting attachment relationships between parent/carer and their child.

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VIG is in the NICE guidelines for children on the edge of care, children who are looked after and adopted children. (NICE NG26, 2015).

NICE recommends video feedback to support families with children with autism (NICE CG170, 2013, updated 2021).

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The 2019 Cochrane Review endorses video feedback interventions to enhance sensitivity in parents of children at risk of poor attachment (November 2019 Cochrane Review).

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Further reading about research studies can be found here.

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VIG is widely used within NHS (i.e. perinatal mental health services), Local Authorities (i.e. Edge of Care services and with children in care, adoption or special guardianship). VIG is also widely used by Education Psychologists to support education staff and pupils.