Therapist adaptations for online caregiver emotion-focused family therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

The urgency to implement distance-based methods to provide ongoing mental health care during the novel coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic represents a critical shift in treatment delivery for children, youth, and families. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional strain on the mental health of families and children. As a result, there is an increased need for brief, family-based interventions. Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) is an empirically-supported intervention targeting caregivers of children with mental health challenges. The EFFT group therapy modality typically involves thirty caregivers who participate in a two-day intensive workshop, serving as a brief yet efficient intervention with enduring impact. Based on experiences within our clinic, this article provides practical intervention strategies to address common challenges therapists may contend with while providing EFFT intervention to caregivers and families through a secure videoconferencing platform. Additional research in distance-based mental health care for children and their caregivers can assess effectiveness, efficiency and improved access to mental health care throughout the pandemic.

L’urgence à développer des méthodes distancielles pour fournir des soins de santé mentale continus pendant la pandémie du nouveau coronavirus (COVID-19) constitue un changement critique pour la dispensation d’un traitement aux enfants, aux jeunes et aux familles. La pandémie de la COVID-19 a mis à rude épreuve la santé mentale des familles et des enfants. Un besoin accru d’interventions brèves et pour les familles en a été la conséquence. La Thérapie familiale centrée sur les émotions (TFCE) est une intervention basée sur des données empiriques ciblant les aidants naturels d’enfants ayant des problèmes de santé mentale. La modalité d’une thérapie de groupe menée selon la TFCE qui est présentée implique spécifiquement trente soignants qui participent à un atelier intensif de deux jours, servant de base à une intervention brève mais efficace ayant un impact durable. Sur la base de l’expérience menée au sein de notre clinique, cet article fournit des stratégies d’intervention pratiques pour relever les défis courants auxquels les thérapeutes peuvent être confrontés en proposant une intervention de TFCE à des soignants et à leurs familles via une plate-forme de vidéoconférence sécurisée. Des recherches supplémentaires sur les soins de santé mentale à distance pour les enfants et leurs soignants pourront évaluer l’efficacité, l’efficience et l’amélioration de l’accès aux soins de santé mentale tout au long de la pandémie.

Die Dringlichkeit, mit der während der neuartigen Coronavirus- (COVID-19) Pandemie distanzbasierte Methoden eingeführt werden mussten, um weiterhin bereits laufende psychotherapeutische Unterstützung anbieten zu können, bedeutete eine kritische Veränderung in der Bereitstellung von Behandlung für Kinder, Jugendliche und Familien. Die COVID-19 Pandemie hat die psychische Gesundheit von Familien und Kindern zusätzlich belastet. In der Folge ist der Bedarf für kurze familienbasierte Interventionen gestiegen. Emotionsfokussierte Familientherapie (EFFT) ist eine empirisch abgestützte Intervention, die sich an die Betreuungspersonen von psychisch belasteten Kindern richtet. Die EFFT Gruppentherapie-Modalität umfasst normalerweise 30 Betreuungspersonen, die an einem zweitägigen Intensiv-Workshop teilnehmen, der sich als kurze und dennoch effiziente Intervention mit nachhaltiger Wirkung erweist. Basierend auf Erfahrungen in unserer Klinik werden in diesem Artikel praktische Interventionsstrategien für klassische Herausforderungen dargelegt, mit denen Therapierende konfrontiert sein können, wenn sie Betreuungspersonen und Familien mit EFFT Interventionen im Rahmen einer gesicherten Videoplattform vertraut machen. Weitere Forschung zur distanzbasierten psychotherapeutischen Gesundheitsversorgung für Kinder und ihre Betreuungspersonen kann die Wirksamkeit, Effizienz und den verbesserten Zugang zur psychotherapeutischen Versorgung während der Pandemie aufzeigen.

La urgencia de implementar métodos basados en la distancia para brindar atención de salud mental continua durante la pandemia del nuevo coronavirus (COVID-19), representa un cambio crítico en la prestación de tratamiento para niños, jóvenes y familias. La pandemia de COVID-19 ha ejercido una presión adicional sobre la salud mental de las familias y los niños. Como resultado, existe una mayor necesidad de intervenciones breves basadas en la familia. La terapia familiar centrada en las emociones (EFFT) es una intervención con apoyo empírico dirigida a los cuidadores de niños con problemas de salud mental. La modalidad de terapia de grupo EFFT generalmente involucra a treinta cuidadores que participan en un taller intensivo de dos días, que sirve como una intervención breve pero eficiente con un impacto duradero. Basado en experiencias dentro de nuestra clínica, este artículo proporciona estrategias prácticas de intervención para abordar los desafíos comunes que los terapeutas pueden enfrentar mientras brindan intervención EFFT a los cuidadores y familias a través de una plataforma segura de videoconferencia. La investigación adicional en la atención de salud mental a distancia para niños y sus cuidadores puede evaluar la efectividad, la eficiencia y un mejor acceso a la atención de salud mental durante la pandemia.

A urgência de implementar métodos de prestação de cuidados de saúde mental à distância no decurso da nova pandemia de coronavírus (COVID‐19) representa uma mudança crítica no tratamento de crianças, jovens e famílias. A pandemia COVID-19 trouxe uma pressão adicional à saúde mental das famílias e das crianças. Como resultado, há uma necessidade crescente de intervenções breves e centradas na família. A Terapia Familiar Focada na Emoção (EFFT) é uma intervenção apoiada empiricamente dirigida a cuidadores de crianças com desafios de saúde mental. A modalidade de terapia de grupo EFFT envolve tipicamente trinta cuidadores que participam num workshop intensivo de dois dias, servindo como uma intervenção breve mas eficiente com impacto duradouro. Com base em experiências na nossa clínica, este artigo fornece estratégias práticas de intervenção para enfrentar desafios comuns que os terapeutas podem enfrentar, ao mesmo tempo que proporciona uma intervenção EFFT aos cuidadores e famílias através de uma plataforma de videoconferência segura. Pesquisas adicionais em cuidados de saúde mental à distância para crianças e os seus cuidadores podem avaliar a eficácia, eficiência e acesso melhorado aos cuidados de saúde mental durante a pandemia.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• pandemic
• EFFT
• adaptation
• telehealth
• teletherapy
• online
• virtual therapy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mirisse Foroughe

Mirisse Foroughe is a Clinical Psychologist and Director of Clinical Training and Research at the Family Psychology Centre. She has over 20 years of experience providing assessment and treatment to children and families and has expertise in many therapeutic modalities including Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), which is her current research focus.

Jessica Soliman

Jessica Soliman is currently a Specialized Honours Psychology Student at York University. Her primary focus is the contribution of novel research and interventions to the field of psychology from an intersectional and culturally informed lens.

Bretton Bean

Bretton Bean has a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies, a diploma in Police Foundations and has also completed 6 full course equivalents in a variety of psychology subjects. He spent over a year working for the Emotion Transformation Lab as a volunteer research assistant. His ultimate goals are to pursue a master’s degree in child and family psychology.

Prakash Thambipillai

Prakash Thambipillai graduated with his Specialized Honours BA in Psychology from York University in 2021. His research interests include trauma, emotional regulation as a transdiagnostic mediator in the development of psychopathology, and interventions that address these issues in vulnerable populations such as immigrants and refugees.

Veronica Benyamin

Veronica Benyamin is a student at York University studying Psychology in the Specialized Honours program. She examines sexuality and mental health, with a central focus on relationships promoting resilience in the face of adversity.