What is FFT?

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is a family treatment service that is aimed at families with young people between the ages of 10 and 17 who have mild to severe behavioral problems. FFT works to reduce the young person’s behavioral problems, such as drug and alcohol abuse, school truancy and criminal behavior. At the same time, FFT treatment is aimed at the entire family, in the form of an intensive, holistic effort that involves all family members in a balanced alliance. The focus is on relational, rather than individual problems, and on finding the strengths that are present in the family, as well as identifying the risk factors that are the causes of the problems. The FFT model also takes into account the many multidimensional systems that surround the family, such as school, institutions, friendship groups, other family, etc. An FFT treatment course lasts an average of 3-6 months and consists of an average of 12 treatment sessions with the associated therapist.
The FFT model is based on a fundamental belief of respecting the families involved in the treatment, regardless of individual differences, culture, ethnic background and family constellation.

Fifth component – Generalization – consists of supporting the family to transfer the improvements achieved from family life to areas other than those addressed in the treatment, but which are important arenas for the family/young person’s well-being (school, friendship groups, etc.). In this way, the family and the child/young person are helped to deal with challenges in their environment in a sustainable and durable way in the future.

Target group
Referral criteria for FFT treatment may be several worrying conditions, or if the child/young person has:
Inappropriate behavior and a high degree of conflict with the environment
> Criminal behavior
> Violent and aggressive behavior
> Substance abuse problems
> School problems
> Psychological problems
Criteria that exclude the child/young person from FFT treatment: If the child/other
is a care base:
>or is a care base without a family:

> Is there a risk of suicide?
> Is acutely psychotic

FFT treatment

Is a phased and multi-component approach to positive change, in the family and with the child/youth. The treatment is based on five primary components for positive and lasting change:
→ Engagement → Motivation → Analysis → Behavioral change → Generalization
The first component of the treatment is engagement, where the focus is on maintaining the family, in staying in the FFT treatment, participating and adhering to agreements, and thereby not dropping out of the program too early. The engagement phase focuses on the entire family’s commitment, in relation to entering the treatment process and collaborating with the therapist along the way.
The second component is motivation, focusing on strengthening the family’s motivation for lasting, positive behavioral changes in the family. In the motivation phase, the family’s ability to form an alliance with the associated therapist strengthens, and the internal family relationship is strengthened, through the restoration of trust and understanding between family members and by formulating hopes, concerns, wishes and expectations for the future.
The third component is analysis, which focuses on mapping the individual emotional relationships of family members and the way in which these are expressed in the behavior between them.
The fourth component is behavior change, which consists of training the family in communication, problem solving and conflict management. In this phase, parenting techniques and communication skills are trained with the aim of changing the family’s behavior in a more constructive direction.
The fifth component, generalization, consists of supporting the family in transferring the improvements achieved from family life to other arenas (school, friendship groups, etc.). In this way, helping the family and the child/young person to deal with challenges in their environment in the future.

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