What Is Family Therapy for Schizophrenia?
Family therapy brings together everyone living with someone who has schizophrenia - parents, siblings, partners, and ideally the person themselves. The main goal is pretty straightforward: reduce the tension, anger, and expressed emotion that can make living together incredibly stressful.
During these sessions, families learn about schizophrenia and what to expect, which helps reduce fear and misunderstandings. The person with schizophrenia gets to explain what kind of support actually helps them (and what doesn't), whilst family members practice better ways to communicate and solve problems together.
The approach teaches families to balance caring for their loved one whilst maintaining their own wellbeing. It's nearly always used alongside medication and other clinical care rather than on its own.
Key Point: Pharaoh et al. found that reducing family stress and improving communication can increase medication compliance, leading to fewer hospital readmissions.
