Family Focused Grief Therapy (FFGT) During Palliative Care & Bereavement: A Model of Family-Centered Care to Optimize Adaptation and Coping
Thursday, 20 September 2007 - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
presented by David Kissane MD

Target Audience: Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Psycho-Oncologists, Family Therapists

Workshop Objectives:

1. Participants should gain a broad understanding of the FFGT model; appreciate the role of screening with the FRI to identify at-risk families; and understand the FFGT model of assessment, engagement, focused treatment, consolidation and termination of therapy.

2. Participants should also understand key strategies that therapists use to conduct this therapy; and appreciate some of the challenges and limitations of helping families during palliative care and bereavement.

Workshop Description:

This one-day experimental workshop provides an overview of this model of family therapy and introduces participants to techniques and strategies for its application. FFGT is designed to support at-risk families during advanced cancer, particularly as the family is drawn into caregiving roles with disease progression and the prospect of death. Continuity of care is readily achieved into bereavement. This empirically-developed intervention has goals of optimizing open communication, family cohesion, and conflict resolution while encouraging emotional expression and mutual support. The early part of the workshop will focus on the rationale for FFGT and describe its application. Role play will be used to take therapists through assessment to practice strategies of family engagement and will demonstrate the use of linear, circular and strategic questions, the role of affirmation of family strengths and the use of inclusive summaries to promote family motivation towards greater teamwork and mutual care and support. A kit of materials about FFGT and role play scripts will be provided to participants.