Psychological Therapies: Family Therapy

Question 1

Reduce negative emotions

Answer 1

Aims to reduce levels of EE, especially negative emotions such as anger and guilt which create stress

Reducing stress is important to reduce the likelihood of relapse

Question 2

Improve family ability to help

Answer 2

The therapist encourages family members to form a therapeutic alliance whereby they all agree on the aims of therapy

The therapist also tries to improve families’ beliefs about and the behaviour towards SZ

A further aim is ensure that family members achieve a balance between caring for the individual with SZ and maintaining their own lives

Question 3

A model of practice

Answer 3

Burbach’s (2018) model:

• Phases 1 & 2 - share information and identify resources family and offer
• Phases 3 &4 - learn mutual understanding, and look at unhelpful patterns of interaction
• Phases 5, 6 & 7 - skills training (e.g. stress management techniques), relapse prevention and maintenance