Multiple Family Group Therapy in a Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre: Residents' Experiences

Abstract

This study documents how residents experience Multiple Family Group (MFG) treatment in an 18‐week residential therapeutic program for people with a severe substance disorder. Individual in‐depth interviews with nine residents and three ex‐residents of European descent were undertaken, and analysed using a descriptive thematic analysis. Results indicate that, prior to taking part in the program, their relationships with their families were seriously damaged and their situations often appeared complex and hopeless. After attending the MFGs all of the participants of this study experienced a number of positive changes in their relationships with their family members and partners. All interviewees said that they had gained more awareness about their interactions, better communications skills and were able to integrate these skills into their relationships with their families and partners.

Clients’ Relational Conceptions of Conjoint Couple and Family Therapy Quality: A Grounded Formal Theory

“…Once in therapy, clients reported the sessions to be a safe haven of comfort and hope where they could experience a respectful and relaxed atmosphere in which to converse (Allen & St. George, 2001; Newfield et al., 1990). Those clients expressing a positive experience with therapy had a tendency to use words such as supportive, unbiased, nonjudgmental, warmth, feeling accepted, engaged, context for change, collaborative, comfortable, caring, involvement, trust, and understanding (Howe, 1996; Odell, Butler, & Dielman, 2005; Schäfer, 2008; Singer, 2005; Smetana & Bigner, 2005; Smith, Yoshioka, & Winton, 1993; Stanbridge et al., 2003; Ward et al., 2007; Young & Cooper, 2008). Of critical importance to some clients was having a regularly scheduled session where they could (a) interact with each other differently, (b) limit the influence of their everyday problems (Bischoff & McBride, 1996; Ward et al., 2007; Wark, 1994b), and (c) focus on relationships (Bowman & Fine, 2000).…”

“…Along with sharing changes in viewing, clients related how they and their family members changed their doing (Allen & St. George, 2001; Bird et al., 2007; Christensen et al., 1998; Davis & Piercy, 2007; Gehart‐Brooks & Lyle, 1999; Stith et al., 1996; Vossler, 2004; Wark, 1994a, 1994b). For some, this change in their ways of doing was characterized as acquiring and maintaining new skills and behaviors (Campbell, 2004; McCollum & Trepper, 1995; McWey, 2008), such as (a) communicating better with family members (Ma, 2000; McCollum & Trepper, 1995; Schäfer, 2008; Sells et al., 1996; Sim, 2005; Stanbridge et al., 2003; Wark, 1994a), (b) reducing conflicts and stress (Campbell, 2004; Ma & Lai, 2007), (c) creating alternatives to problematic behaviors (McCollum & Trepper, 1995; Ward et al., 2007), (d) bringing families closer together (Ma & Lai, 2007; Stith et al., 1996), and (e) interacting differently with outside individuals and organizations (e.g., other helping professionals, Campbell, 2004; school personnel, Ma, 2000). Clients often described these behavioral and communicative changes in relational language, noting how changes in doing and viewing can be reciprocal: “The more we talk in therapy [the doing] the better we understand the problem [the viewing]” (Ma, 2000, p. 301).…”

Kroni̇k Hastaliklarla Baş Etmede Çoklu Ai̇le Grubu Terapi̇si̇ Uygulamalari

“…İlerleyen dönemlerde ise çoklu aile grubu terapisi kapsamında yapılan çalışmalara bakıldığında dörtbeş aileden oluşan gruplar olduğu kadar daha fazla ailenin dahil olduğu grup çalışmalarının da yapıldığı görülmektedir. Nitekim çoklu aile grubunun etkililiği için grubun oluşturulma sürecinin başlangıcında dörtyedi ailenin yeterli olduğu ifade edilmektedir (Schafer, 2008). Bunun grubun terapötik amaçlara ulaşması için her ailenin gruba katılımında fırsat sağlaması açısından yeterince küçük ancak operasyonel hale gelmesi için ise yeterince büyük bir grup oluşturulduğunu göstermektedir.…”

La Terapia De Pareja en el Contexto de la Comunidad Terapéutica Hogar el Camino donde el Uso Abusivo de Sustancias es Definido Como Problema

“…A pesar que el autor no profundiza en la incidencia de estos niveles de abordaje, la importancia que le atribuye al convocar a la pareja al proceso interventivo, así como el llamado de otras disciplinas para el abordaje de dicho fenómeno permite pensar en la multidisciplinariedad como conector pues se convierte posibilitador en la relación que establecen la pareja con estas instituciones. Schafer (2008), plantea que los encuentros terapéuticos que ofrecen los Grupos de terapia multifamiliar en las comunidades terapéuticas permite a los residentes y a sus familias la emergencia del cambio en las relaciones conflictivas que han tenido, así como también potencian el cambio individual del residente, al escuchar otras familias que se encuentran con miembros con pauta adictiva.…”