Dancing with diabetes: brief therapy conversations with children, young people and families living with diabetes

Abstract

This paper describes a combination of brief therapy approaches that have been used in a paediatric diabetes service to enhance engagement and communication with children, young people and their families. These psychological approaches are integrated into the team’s practice. Brief therapy approaches are respectful of a family’s expertise in their situation and take a non-judgmental and motivational stance in relation to promoting self management. Diabetes team members maintain a position of curiosity and interest in how children, young people and families find ways to deal with the day-to-day challenges of living with diabetes and keep their lives on track.

Keywords:

• Solution-focused therapy
• narrative therapy
• problem-free talk
• setting a focus
• externalising the problem
• focussing on the future
• scaling
• looking for exceptions
• coping
• positive feedback