Brain injury family intervention for adolescents: A solution-focused approach

Abstract

Background: Strengths-based approaches are increasingly utilized in health care, but little is known about their practical application in rehabilitation with families after pediatric acquired brain injury (ABI).

Objective: To describe a strengths-based model, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and its clinical application to family intervention for adolescents with ABI.

Methods: A literature review highlights a growing movement towards resilience and strengths-based approaches to family intervention after pediatric ABI. The authors introduce the assumptions, tenets, and clinical application of SFBT, which is a competency-based and resource-based model that focuses on family strengths and successes. A direct comparison is made between the traditional medical model and the solution-focused paradigm.

Results: Key elements of SFBT are described, including specific strategies, techniques, and its clinical application in the Brain Injury Family Intervention for Adolescents (BIFI-A). The BIFI-A, designed for adolescents with ABI and their families, is a 12-session manualized intervention that encompasses education about ABI, skill building, and emotional support.

Conclusions: Given the increased interest for research regarding strengths-based approaches in pediatric rehabilitation, the utilization of SFBT with families of adolescents with ABI warrants further attention and investigation. The BIFI-A, with its underpinnings of SFBT, is a promising new family system intervention that also merits further research.

Keywords: Family; adolescent; brain injuries; family therapy; rehabilitation; solution-focused therapy; strengths-based family interventions.