Multiple Family Group Therapy Research Articles

The impact of poverty on children in out-of-home care services in a Chinese context and the application of multiple family group therapy to enrich their family lives

The majority of Chinese children placed in out-of-home care in Hong Kong come from economically disadvantaged families. These children have experienced poverty and multiple difficulties (e.g., parents' mental illness, substance abuse) in their families. The removal of children from their homes, with the social worker's intention of protecting the children's welfare, has inevitably interrupted the parent-child attachment, which may be a traumatic experience for both the children and their parents. Owing to limited family resources, the out-of-home children seldom have quality family time with their parents and siblings before and after placement. The children's family lives are seriously affected. Despite the evident needs of the children in these areas, out-of-home care services in Hong Kong emphasize behavioral management, discipline and control of the children under care, rather than helping to re-establishing parent-child relationships and fostering quality family life. In view of this service gap, the authors have launched a service initiative; that is, the use of multiple family group therapy (MFGT) in an out-of-home care service provided by a local non-government organization, with the aim of improving parent-child relationships, fostering quality family time and empowering families to provide mutual help and mutual support. In so doing, hopefully we can bridge the service gap and promote the knowledge of family-centered care practice for out-of-home services in Hong Kong. In this article we shall (a) critically examine the impact of poverty on looked-after children and their families and identify unmet service needs; (b) describe the model of the MFGT we have adapted to suit our purpose; (c) highlight the intervention strategies used to foster quality family time, re-establish parent-child relationships and build a network of supporting families; and (d) report the children's experiences and feedback from the groups. At the end of the paper, we shall discuss the implications for the services in a local context.

The importance of multiple-family group therapy in treatment of psychosomatic pathology

IntroductionThe “parental multiple-family school” was developed in Buenos Aires (Argentina) by E. Rotenberg, based on the theory and practice of J. García Badaracco's multiple-family psychoanalysis (which further expands on the classical psychoanalysis’ frame), applying it to the kids and their relatives. We will focus on the therapeutic group treating psychosomatic pathology, with the collaboration of the Dermatology department of the Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez.ObjectiveTo highlight the importance of creating spaces to modify the psychic mechanisms and resources of the psychosomatic patient at an infant age.MethodsWe describe the “multiple-family parents school”, an open, weekly group, coordinated by two psychologists and assisted by a dermatologist, in which the theories of J. García Badaracco's multiple-family group analysis are applied. We also discuss the importance of applying this system in our clinical practice.ResultsWe observed, according to the Dermatology department, very positive and significative changes in every post-group, which could lead to the disappearance of dermatological diseases in different patients without a pharmacological treatment which was previously given as first option. Single-session groups had many advantages, including the removal of waiting lists, a better development of the emotional connection between kids and their families, and a reduction of the therapeutic and professional costs.ConclusionWe think that starting interventions in multiple-family group therapy in Madrid in order to treat psychosomatic diseases in kids and teenagers should be encouraged after the very positive clinical experience in other cities.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Multiple Family Group Therapy for Families with Children Placed in Out-Of-Home Care in a Chinese Context

Since the 1980s, the family-centered approach has been widely adopted in the west (e.g., the United States) as an approach to serving children living in an out-of-home care context. In comparison, in Hong Kong, out-of-home care services tend to be child-centered and child-protection oriented. This article (1) examines the child welfare service, specifically out-of-home care services, in Hong Kong and (2) makes the case for integrating family-centered out-of-home care services for children. Three vignettes are presented that demonstrate the use of Multiple Family Group Therapy (MFGT) to promote family-centered practice. The article concludes with a discussion of challenges and recommendations related to a shift to family-centered practice.

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

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.

Multiple Family Group Therapy in a Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre

In the last decade there has been increasing interest in working systemically with groups of families. Multiple family groups (MFGs) have been used in mental health settings with schizophrenia, eating disorders and drug and substance abuse. This article describes the MFG program used in Higher Ground Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Trust, a rehabilitation centre in Auckland, (New Zealand). Higher Ground provides an 18‐week residential therapeutic program for people with a severe substance abuse disorder. The MFG in Higher Ground focuses on developing better communication patterns and better boundaries between family members, fostering mutual support, and promoting self‐responsibility.

Components and Correlates of Family Burden in Schizophrenia

Components and Correlates of Family Burden in Schizophrenia

Psychosis and multiple family group therapy

Despite the growing evidence base for the effectiveness of family intervention in the treatment of individuals suffering from a psychotic disorder, in practice only relatively few mental health teams use family approaches when treating and managing those with schizophrenia or other psychoses. This paper describes a pragmatic model, which may be used in addition to other ongoing treatments, such as medication, CBT or single family therapy. It was developed jointly by clinicians and service users over the past few years. It consists of regular multiple family group work, with six to eight families attending simultaneously, and aims to involve families directly in the treatment, rehabilitation and recovery of their members suffering from psychotic disorder.

Use of the Multiple Family Group Therapy in Managing Children's ADHD

Parental responses to the use of multiple family group therapy in managing children’s ADHD have been favorable and invite a closer look at the relevant group and family processes that promote feelings of competency in both parents and children. Multiple family group sessions comprise the second phase of a three–part treatment program reviewed in The ADHD Report in June 2000 (Scapillato, Bregman, & Williams, 2000). The first phase consists of parent education about ADHD and training in behavior management strategies; the third phase involves a children’s treatment group focused on improved symptom management and social skills development. The size and composition of the multiple family group is determined through a process of self–selection in the parent group during the preceding weeks, and averages 6 to 10 families, with at least 1 parent and the identified child from each family. Families are self–referred or referred by child assessment clinics in 2 local hospitals, with the principal admission criterion being that the identified child has a diagnosis of ADHD. The perspective of ADHD endorsed in the program is adopted from Russell Barkley (1997, 2000), who views the disorder as involving a deficit in “performance.” A consistent theme is the enhancement of children’s motivation in key areas of functioning.

Multiple Family Group Therapy: An Interpersonal/Postmodern Approach

Multiple Family Group Therapy has been identified as a viable treatment model for a variety of client populations. A combination of family systems theories and therapeutic group factors provide the opportunity to explore multiple levels of intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships between families. All group members are afforded the opportunity of both giving and receiving feedback about strengthening their own family ties. This article depicts a Multiple Family Group Therapy model based on interpersonal and postmodern theories of therapy. A theoretical base is provided in conjunction with descriptions of weekly activities.

Multiple-Family Group Treatment: The Underexplored Therapy

Multipl,e-family group therapy (MFGT) has been conducted since 1951. Even though personal accounts of the efficacy of MFGT have been consistently documented, current research in this area of counseling is sparse. The purposes of this review are to (a) explore the limited amount of MFGT research that has been conducted over the past 10 years, (b) inform couple andfamily therapists of the advantages of MFGTI and (3) discuss the implications for the future of MFGTfrom the five research articles reviewed herein.

Multiple Family Group Therapy: A Group-Analytic Perspective

This paper describes Multiple Family Group Therapy in a Child and Family Psychiatric Unit. The approach involves treatment of up to six families in a large-group setting with additional separate group sessions for parents and children. The approach lends itself particularly to socially isolated families with long-standing dysfunction.

Multiple Family Group Therapy: A Review of Its Applicability to the Practice of School Psychology

As research continues to point to the relationship between a student's family functioning and school behavior, the family increasingly has become an important system with which school psychologists...

Multiple family group therapy with developmentally disabled adolescents and young adults.

(1983). Multiple Family Group Therapy with Developmentally Disabled Adolescents and Young Adults. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy: Vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 521-534.

The use of children's drawings in multiple family group therapy

This paper describes the advantages, difficulties and techniques of including young children in multiple family group therapy (MFGT). Multiple family group therapy consists of weekly sessions where three or more families meet conjointly with a therapist or cotherapists. Clinical vignettes demonstrate how to use children's drawings with parents to improve family communication. The efficiency of MFGT is compared to family therapy or individual therapy. The effective use of this modality with some children under 10 years is discussed.

Redecision family therapy: Its use with intensive multiple family groups

Abstract Intensive multiple family group therapy combines the advantages of group therapy with those of time-limited, goal-oriented approaches. Using the Redecision Family Therapy model further refines the technique by integrating the seemingly disparate methods of intrapsychic and systemic therapy. In this paper we describe our 10-year experience with this model, elaborate on the model itself and discuss the results of an outcome survey.

Multiple Family Group Therapy with a Tri-Therapist Team

In summary, we attempt to minimize personal and professional factors that may hinder the group or be deleterious to the tri-therapists' working relationship. With such contract variables in mind, it is hoped that other co-therapists would find similar approaches that will make co-therapy a satisfying experience.

Multiple Family Group Therapy: A Review of the Literature

This review focuses upon multiple family group therapy, its origin in the intersection of family and group therapies, its use in a variety of settings, its specific techniques and group development in individual and ongoing meetings, its goals and dominant themes, its parallels in family and group work. Also discussed are evaluation of outcome of this therapy modality and those dynamics thought to contribute to family change. Areas for further investigation are outlined.

Multiple family group therapy with adolescents in a state hospital

In this paper, I have briefly discussed multiple family group therapy as an approach used with state-hospitalized adolecents and their parents. This approach was considered as best meeting the therapeutic needs of the seriously disturbed adolescent and his “hard-to-reach” family. Parents and adolescents were receptive to and cooperative with the multiple family group approach. This approach was one amendable to an understaffed, underbudgeted state hospital unit and is looked upon as an appropriate, a possible, and a successful treatment method. In addition, this approach was appropriate and successful with two groups which, culturally speaking, were diametrically opposed. I have outlined briefly some of the operating differences within the two groups. The overwhelming similarities in the approaches with these groups, however, illustrates the approach's general applicability.

Evaluation and treatment of families at the Fort Logan Mental Health Center

The evaluation and treatment of families at the Fort Logan Mental Health Center is described. There is considerable variation in the techniques used by the different treatment teams. The most widely used treatment technique is "multiple family group therapy" or "conjoint family group therapy." A number of trends are described: there is an increasing community orientation with many evaluations being done in homes, a wider extended family group being involved, and so on. There is an increasing tendency to view the locus of illness as being in the family rather than within the identified patient.

Adolescents in multiple family group therapy in a school setting.

Adolescents in multiple family group therapy in a school setting.