A Psychoanalytic Family Therapy Programme for Dysfunctional Family Groups Where Juveniles Are at Risk: A Challenge for Care and Illustration of Treatment Through Family Therapy

A Family Therapy Programme is described and illustrated with a clinical case. This programme operates within a healthcare framework in the psychoanalytic psychotherapy unit for families referred to the Barcelona Council's Childhood and Adolescence Care Team (EAIA). Set up in 2007, it is the first experience in Barcelona of family therapy to be focused on this population and managed by the City Administration. It provides psychotherapeutic care to families presenting severe problems.

Our study shows how the existence of a containing therapeutic space for dialogue helps in the reduction of persecutory anxiety, and allows the gradual creation of a mental space within parents in which there is room for awareness of their children's needs.

We conclude that this therapeutic intervention has preventative value for young people. However, there is a need for adaptations to the technique to improve the approach with this type of family. As such, this indicates that further studies are necessary which use wider samples to provide corroboration of the effectiveness of this type of treatment.