Family therapy and psychosis and schizophrenia
Some evidence – there is enough evidence to indicate that this can be a helpful treatment option.
Family therapy for people with psychosis focuses on understanding how your symptoms affect you and finding the best way of supporting you and your family together. This involves the needs of all the people in your family and their relationships with each other. Family therapy should include you and empower you and your family to help and support each other.
You should have at least 10 sessions of family therapy, which could take between three months and one year. You and your family should help to decide whether to have therapy as a single family, or in a group with other families. Your professional should also help you with any other support you need, such as education about psychosis or schizophrenia, problem solving or crisis management support.
Your professional should monitor the outcomes of your family therapy, including what you thought of the therapy.
Most research on family therapy to help with schizophrenia has only involved adults. Family therapy is a common treatment for children and young people with mental health conditions as children and young people usually live with their families, and things that affect one person in a family can have an impact on others. Family members can also be a good source of support, so it is likely to be a helpful treatment option even if there isn’t much research involving children and young people.
Treatments outlined on these webpages may not be available in every local area. It’s important that you discuss with your GP or mental health professional the treatment options available to you. You can also search for services near you on our Youth Wellbeing Directory and find out more about referral processes here.