Therapeutic Process Through an Analysis of Significant Events in Psychodramatic Family Therapy

Abstract

Significant events are defined as relevant moments in therapy that help in understanding how changes occur. Scene-based psychodramatic family therapy follows a multiple-family-group format based on systemic therapy and psychodrama, aimed at families with adolescents exhibiting externalizing problems. This study aimed to identify the significant events and analyze therapeutic processes through a joint analysis of significant events from the client's perspective. Fourteen multiple-family groups were evaluated (122 adolescents and 107 parents in total) through focus groups at the end of the treatment. Using thematic analysis, we identified six types of significant events, the phase of treatment in which they occurred, the clients' involvement during the identified events, the modality of the intervention in which the events occurred, and their impact. The results confirm enactment, conflict dramatization, emotional expression, and catharsis as the main events in multiple-family groups. The participants reported significant events, particularly during the middle and final phases of the treatment, notably moments related to enactment and role-playing situations. Moreover, adolescents identified significant events both in group moments without their parents and in group situations with their parents. These findings highlight key mechanisms of change in families with adolescents exhibiting externalizing behaviors that participate in multiple-family groups with a systemic approach and psychodramatic techniques.