Family focused grief therapy: a versatile intervention in palliative care and bereavement

A diagnosis of advanced stage cancer is a difficult life event for the entire family. Previous studies have demonstrated the negative psychosocial outcomes associated with the burden of caregiving in conjunction with dysfunctional family relations. Family Focused Grief Therapy (FFGT) is a time-limited intervention that has been shown to be effective in aiding dysfunctional families through the promotion of family functioning, communication, cohesiveness, and conflict management. This paper outlines the content of FFGT therapy and highlights its unique aspects as well as the challenges of providing therapy to different types of families in the context of palliative care. FFGT shows promise as an effective intervention applicable across multiple settings in the future.