Apport de la thérapie centrée sur les émotions à la thérapie familiale multidimensionnelle : une illustration clinique

Abstract

Introduction

Multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) is a family-based treatment for adolescents with substance use disorders and co-occurring behavioural problems that have been widely shown to be highly effective.

Aim

This article extends the empirical knowledge and experience of how change occurs in MDFT.

Method

First, we introduce components of emotionally focused therapy (EFT) for integration into clinical work with the adolescent and parents. We then we explore the negative emotional interactional impasse in the adolescent/parent relationship. We present a sequential deconstruction of anger and its transformation into a more adaptive emotion, based on clinical cases.

Results

Three steps are described: (1) individual preparation to reconnect with adaptive emotions (adolescent and parents), (2) enactment in the dyadic adolescent–parent emotional and relational reconnection, (3) emotional transformation in the dyadic relationship.

Conclusion

EFT components enhance and deepen the emotional work in the dyadic adolescent/parent relationship. It opens the way to other clinical horizons of EFT-MDFT integration.