Families and friends

When a person experiences psychosis it can be confusing and stressful for family members. When one member of the family is troubled by unusual and extraordinary experiences, it is common for other members of the family to be affected, often putting a strain on everyone’s relationship.

We know that families can find it hard to understand what is going on and often don’t know how to help.

We regularly work with the families of people who have experienced psychosis. Family Intervention is a particular way of working and is offered alongside this routine work, when we agree that it might be helpful.

Family Interventions have been widely researched and we have found that if we work with the person experiencing psychosis together with their wider networks it can help everyone to cope, lower feelings of stress and help the person experiencing psychosis to get better and stay well.

Family Interventions are a talking treatment delivered by mental health workers who are trained in this approach. It is offered alongside other interventions such as medication.

Although the service is called ‘Family Intervention’ anyone who is in regular contact with the person experiencing psychosis can be invited, including:

• Parents
• Siblings
• Partners
• Carers
• Friends

We understand that every person and family is different, so we tailor our support to fit your needs. Sessions can involve:

• Talking about what psychosis is and developing a shared understanding of why a person might develop these experiences
• Providing an opportunity for everyone to talk about their worries and concerns
• Building on your family’s existing strengths
• Thinking together about specific problems and coming up with practical ways to help manage them
• Helping to maintain family relationships and keeping channels of communication open
• Identifying strategies and practical ways to help the person who has experienced psychosis to get better and stay well
• Helping families to be optimistic about the future.

If you would like to receive support from the Family Intervention service, please speak to the mental health worker involved in supporting you or your relative’s care.