Functional Family Therapy (FFT)

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is a type of intervention therapy. Therapeutic interventions gather the family and friends of individuals who exhibit self-destructive behavior, and together, these individuals convince the patient to get help. FFT involves numerous intervention encounters that examine and develop relationships between the patient and his or her family.

FFT involves three distinct phases. Phase one, education and motivation, shows both the patient and his or her family that it is possible to change the patient’s negative behavior by emphasizing the credibility of the process. Phase two focuses on behavioral change, helping the patient to better cope with the stressors that lead to his or her destructive behavior. Phase three teaches the patient to apply new, positive behaviors to other situations.

FFT is primarily targeted at youth between the ages of eleven and eighteen. Researchers have found that FFT results in lower rates of destructive juvenile behavior. However, some studies found that FFT did not reduce recidivism of felony-level offenders.

Background

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is a therapeutic intervention, an effort made by individuals or groups to improve the safety or mental health of someone who is refusing other forms of help. Some interventions are led by therapists or professionals, while others are carried out by friends and family members of the afflicted individual.

Intervention therapy is used in numerous circumstances. It can be used in institutions, as part of a coordinated treatment program but can also be used outside of psychiatric or therapeutic programs. In many cases, intervention therapy is used for people who have addictions, eating disorders, or dangerous sexual habits. It may also be used on individuals who suffer from emotional problems or dementia. Most targets of intervention therapy are engaging in self-destructive behavior and have previously resisted treatment.

During intervention therapy, family and friends organize a calm, respectful confrontation. The group points out the consequences of the self-destructive person’s actions and collectively asks him or her to seek help. When doing so, they express care for the self-destructive person and ensure him or her that the intervention is not an attack.

Interventions are designed to help modify behaviors. They pressure people to change their behavior in a strong but nonthreatening way. In most cases, the changes brought on by an intervention result in a positive change in the targeted individual’s life. For example, an intervention may convince someone struggling with narcotics addiction to enroll in a rehabilitation program.

Overview

FFT is an intervention program for dysfunctional youth. The program is designed to combat violence, crime, substance abuse, conduct disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder in youth between the ages of eleven and eighteen. The program typically includes eight to twelve sessions but may include up to thirty sessions for more extreme cases.

FFT is commonly broken down into three phases. Phase one includes education and motivation. It maximizes factors that increase the credibility of the intervention process and minimizes those that decrease this. For example, phase one might focus on increasing the perception that positive change is possible and contradicting any negative perceptions associated with interventions.

During this time, therapists typically use reattribution techniques, which foster the family’s beliefs that change is possible and create trust between the family and the therapist. These techniques also promote respect between the family and the patient, reducing negativity.

Phase two of FFT focuses on behavior change. During this phase, the therapist develops individual behavioral change plans for the patient. They teach the patient new coping strategies to deal with stressors, help the patient better understand the triggers leading to his or her disruptive behaviors, and teach the patient to avoid most behaviors associated with negativity.

Phase three of FFT focuses on generalization. It teaches patients to take the new, positive habits they have learned during FFT and apply them to other areas of their lives. Spreading these changes to other areas makes patients more likely to maintain their positive behaviors. Families involved in the intervention process can help reinforce these changes. They can strengthen bonds and use community support systems to stop patients from returning to problematic behaviors. If the patient’s family is uncomfortable reaching out to the local community for support, the therapist may help the family contact schools, the justice system, and any other relevant support networks.

During each phase of the program, patients are challenged to work on assessment. They focus on understanding how any psychological conditions, such as depression, may be contributing to problematic behaviors. They should also consider how problematic family relations might have contributed to destructive habits. Once those problems are identified, they can be actively mitigated in the future.

FFT programs can be carried out at home, in schools, or in clinical facilities. FFT programs are used in numerous states across the country. In most cases, FFT programs are run by trained professionals with advanced degrees. However, in some cases, programs may be carried out by individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.

Research has shown that FFT programs are successful in reducing problematic behavior in at-risk youth. The programs are also successful in reducing recidivism in juvenile offenders. However, some studies have failed to find statistically significant reductions in recidivism in felony-level offenders.

Bibliography

“Functional Family Therapy.” Functional Family Therapy, www.fftllc.com/. Accessed 6 May, 2020.

“Functional Family Therapy.” Juvenile Justice Bulletin, www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/184743.pdf. Accessed 6 May, 2020.

“Functional Family Therapy.” Penn State College of Health and Human Development, www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/intervention. Accessed 6 May, 2020.

“Intervention.” Good Therapy, www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/intervention. Accessed 6 May, 2020.

“Our Organization.” Functional Family Therapy, www.fftllc.com/our-organization/. Accessed 6 May, 2020.

“Program Profile: Functional Family Therapy (FFT).” National Institute of Justice, www.crimesolutions.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?ID=122. Accessed 6 May, 2020.

“Therapeutic Intervention.” Psychology Today, www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/therapeutic-intervention. Accessed 6 May, 2020.

“Types of Family Therapy.” Premier Institute, premiermindinstitute.com/types-family-therapy/. Accessed 6 May, 2020.