Our service offers family work to service users, who experience psychosis, and their families
What is family work?
Having psychosis or bipolar can be a bewildering experience for the individual and those close to them. Individuals and families may find it difficult to understand and share their experiences and worries about what is happening.
Families under stress may find it difficult to cope. At these times it can become difficult to communicate and work together effectively.
Family work builds on the existing strengths within your family to support you, to support one another, through the experience of having psychosis or bipolar.
Why should we do family work?
- Research over many years has shown, in a number of areas, family work may help you and your family.
- There is particularly strong evidence family work is effective in reducing the chance of relapse in psychosis.
- NICE (National Institute of Health & Care Excellence) guidelines recommend service users experiencing psychosis and their families should be offered family work as part of their care package.
- Families have shared that they have found it helpful. You can use this QR code or link to watch a video of other people’s experience of receiving family work for psychosis or bipolar: https://youtu.be/iPrQ8BONrpY
Who does it involve?
Family sessions are open to you and whoever you feel makes up your ‘family’. This means that friends who you spend a lot of time with and provide you with support can be included too.
How can we access family work?
- your care coordinator may be qualified to do this work, otherwise they can arrange for you to meet a family worker to discuss the work and answer any questions
- family work is entirely optional and offered alongside other treatments and support
- becoming involved in family work will not affect your existing care package.
What happens next?
- family work always starts with a family worker (who may be your care coordinator) meeting you and your family to explain what will happen and answer any questions
- if you decide to take part in the work it will begin with a family worker meeting with you and your family individually to understand each individual’s experience
- you will all then plan together what you are going to work on
- meetings usually last about an hour, and generally take place once a week
- on average, family work lasts for around 12 sessions
- family work usually takes place in your own home – if this is not convenient, it may be possible to arrange meetings elsewhere
- each family is unique therefore the family work is tailored to your needs.
Family work will help you and your family to:
- develop a shared understanding of your experience of psychosis
- learn new ways to talk together effectively and reduce stress
- learn new ways to tackle challenges as a family
- practice new skills in sessions and between sessions.
Family work focuses on current issues in the here and now which are important to all the family. Its purpose is not to focus on the past or to look for blame in the family.
Feedback
What do you think this leaflet – is the information useful, is there anything missing or anything you didn’t understand? Please let your care team know.
Do you have concerns or complaints?
If you have concerns or complaints about a service, please tell a member of staff. You can also call our complaints teams on Freephone 0800 052 0219 or email [email protected]
Information in other languages and formats
We want to make sure you can read and understand the information we provide to you. If you would like this leaflet in another language, large print, audio or Braille, please ask a member of staff.
Find this information
Staff – T:\Patient and Carer Information\Trustwide\AMH Trustwide information
Service users and carers – https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/services/family–work–for–psychosis/
L696, V5, 23/05/2024 (Archive: 22/05/2027)
