How can families help in therapy?

The stronger the team, the better the chances of winning...

Recruiting family members to be part of treatment is one way to increase clients’ success in therapy. Therefore, including family members, partners, or even friends, to be involved in their loved ones treatment is important. In doing so, team members can help to:

1. Develop a shared understanding of the problem. This means that everyone has the same understanding about what the problem is, how it affects the client, and how to best respond to problem behaviours. Having a clear and accurate understanding of the problem can also help to enhance empathy for the client and reduce conflict.

2. Normalise the problem. Discussing the problem with others and learning, for example, that everyone feels anxious from time-to-time, can help the client to feel that their problems are not unusual or "weird". Moreover, the client can feel relief that their difficulties are no longer big bad secrets that should be kept hidden.

3. Support in-between session goals. Family and friends can be particularly helpful in supporting the client with homework, including reducing their own accommodation of the client's difficulties. This might mean, for example, buying their child less soap for hand washing rituals or encouraging their friend to speak up by ordering their own meal at a cafe.

4. Reinforce progress. Not only can significant others support in-between session progress, they can help to reinforce gains made in therapy by providing positive feedback, such as sending encouraging texts or providing rewards. Noticing and rewarding positive changes in behaviour increases the likelihood that these behaviours will occur again.

5. Reduce chances of a relapse. After getting better, there is always a risk of relapse for the client in the future. If family and friends are involved in a relapse prevention plan, the chances of a relapse are reduced significantly. It's helpful to educate the client's team about warning signs of a relapse, giving them permission to check-in about concerning behaviours, and helping the client to fill their life with new and productive behaviours.

At CCAO, whenever appropriate, we aim to build our clients’ teams to include family, partners, and friends. By including significant others in treatment, our client’s are more likely to make significant and sustained improvements.

Go Team!!

Author: Dr Jacinda Cadman, Clinical Psychologist at Children’s Centre for Anxiety and OCD