Medical or relational language? Problem and goal formulation in family therapy with adolescents conducted in a psychiatric outpatient setting

Abstract

The constructionist view assumes that therapy participants' maps of understanding depend on the institutional context and their personal perspectives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the initial maps of difficulties reported by family members starting family therapy. 106 families that were referred to a psychiatric institution for outpatient family therapy were asked open-ended questions regarding the context of the referral, and goal and problem formulation for the therapy.The data were analysed via the consensual qualitative research-modified (CQR-M) method, and comparisons between groups were performed. The obtained results show a diversity of perspectives. Of interest was the predominance of medical language in describing the problem and relational language in describing the goal of therapy. An analysis of differences between mothers, fathers, adolescent patient and their siblings was also performed. The findings highlight the complexity of notions that families start family therapy with and may help therapists navigate through the therapeutic contract formulation process.

Seeing, being and feeling seen and heard

“…A second paper with a focus within the psychiatric system by Taurogiński et al (2023) examines the different ways in which parents, siblings and identified patients describe what it is that brings them to out-patient family therapy. The authors highlight the use by families of medical language in describing the problem and the use of more relational language in describing the goals of therapy.…”