Family therapy aims to reduce levels of expressed emotion (EE), especially negative emotions such as anger and guilt which create stress. Reducing stress is important to reduce the likelihood of relapse.
The therapist encourages family members to form a therapeutic alliance whereby they all agree on the aims of therapy. The therapist also tries to improve families' beliefs about and behaviour towards schizophrenia. A further aim is to ensure that family members achieve a balance between caring for the individual with schizophrenia and maintaining their own lives.
Burbach's model:
Phases 1 and 2 - share information and identify resources family can offer.
Phases 3 and 4 - learn mutual understanding, and look at unhelpful patterns of interaction.
Phases 5, 6 and 7 - skills training (e.g. stress management techniques), relapse prevention and maintenance.
