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NSW Brain Injury Rehabilitation Forum May 2011
Back to: PROGRAMME : ABSTRACTS : VIDEOS
Family therapeutic groups
ALEX SHELTON, Westmead Hospital, BIRS
Title: Family therapeutic groups
Author: Shelton Alex & Pfeiffer Danielia, Westmead Hospital, BIRS
It is widely acknowledged within the field of brain injury that psychosocial changes following traumatic brain injury (TBI) are likely to have a significant and often negative impact on family members. For partners and spouses in particular, the impact of TBI can result in significant role and relationship changes.
Westmead BIRS Social Workers developed two group programs for partners and parents of people with a TBI to connect and share experiences and to address their collective emotional needs through educational and therapeutic methods. It has been argued that models of family intervention in brain injury should include a therapeutic as well as an educational component to be most effective.
The main theoretical framework used in developing the programs was Bowen's Family Systems theory, which focuses on patterns that develop in families in order to defuse anxiety which heightens in times of crisis.
The group's structure consisted of 3 two hour sessions with a closed group format of 3-4 personally invited participants. The partners and parents groups were implemented separately as it was identified they had differing needs. Partners comprised the largest proportion of family members present, were observed to be experiencing significant emotional distress, and were more reluctant to seek individual support, when compared to parents.
The overall goals for both group programs were for partners and parents to integrate an understanding of changes to relationship roles, manage their own emotional needs and be empowered to use these to deal with current and future challenges.
The success of each group was assessed by utilising a self developed evaluation form completed by each participant. These evaluations indicated positive outcomes for both partners and parents.
