STAGE 4. Selecting the theoretical approach

What steps should be completed?

Step 1: Select the theoretical approach or approaches on which the intervention will be based

FAMILY-CENTRED THERAPIES

The term "family-centred therapies" refers to cognitive behavioural methods in general applied to the family context. These therapies give a central role to the family as part of the solution to the drug use problem because of the interrelation among its members, and they are especially useful to treat problems of abuse and addiction in adolescents (or adults who live with their parents).

The most widely used in the field of addictive behaviours are:

Brief strategic family therapy. This is primarily directed at drug-using adolescents with other concurrent behavioural problems. It considers that the behaviours of the different family members are interdependent, and focuses on the role of the drug use of one of its members, which is interpreted as a sign of poor family functioning. The treatment lasts 8-24 sessions, depending on the severity of the problem, and is aimed at identifying patterns of family interaction associated with adolescent behavioural problems and helping those who perpetuate those problems to change.¹

Multidimensional family therapy. This examines drug use in terms of a network of influences. Individual behaviour is considered contextualised within a network of interconnections of social systems that include the individual, family, school, neighbourhood, friends and cultural environment. All these reference social systems can have an impact on behaviour so, when well guided, they can also become protective factors. It includes individual sessions, where decision-making, negotiation, problem-solving skills, etc. are tackled, and sessions take place with parents, where they analyse their parenting style with their children and learn to distinguish between influencing and controlling their children.¹

Multisystem family therapy. This is an intensive approach, highly personalised to the family and based on the community, consistent with ecological social behaviour models (approaches) that consider behaviour to be the result of reciprocal interactions between individuals and the interconnected systems in which the self is created and consolidated. It uses focused strategies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, but within an integrative and ecological framework.

 

Reference:

1 National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (2010). Principles of drug treatment: a research-based guide. Washington: National Institute on Drug Abuse.