In the Chapter on Modalities I described different types of therapeutic intervention and I have already mentioned the type of modalities that will be to the fore in our training.
I’m not a great fan of the word intervention [1] myself – but I am using it here to describe what should be collaborative, two-way knowledge flow journeying. It is necessary to cover various modalities relevant to the work that, it is expected, practitioners will be doing.
Firstly there is the very practical crisis intervention work – this also comes under the umbrella of skills. However there are different types of crisis intervention, and different helpers with different skills may have different roles. (For example, the mixture of the formal and non-formal mentioned already as being of benefit).
I have argued that in meeting people where they are at, and journeying with them, Person Centred Therapy and all its dimensions is our first choice in modality. PCT allows for acceptance of, and utilisation of chaos in family support work.
Another very helpful modality is cognitive behavioural therapy and all its different aspects in different environments. It will be necessary to explore the strengths and limitations of CBT in the work with people who have had different experiences and who have different personalities.
While I have not included it in the Chapter on Modalities, a very useful approach in our work is solution focused brief therapy. What brief means, of course, is not that it is all over in 10 sessions, but rather how to make a difference in a brief encounter, even if it is only for 10 minutes. Related to SFBT are topics such as narrative therapy, motivational interviewing and what is often known as strengths-based work. In all the above it is important to recognise the benefits of quick-wins but the dangers inherent in them too.
Throughout the website I identify addiction as being of particular significance in the lives of families affected by imprisonment. Various models of intervention when assisting individuals and families who are affected by addiction need to be covered. Also, the link between addiction and trauma. In meeting active addicts where they are at, the value of harm reduction, peer support, twelve-step approach all need to be considered. Exploring the role of the addict (and addiction in general) in the family would be of great benefit.
And remember, when we are self-aware enough to make a conscious choice in our use of language, dialogue and demeanour, and we recognise the uniqueness of each encounter, we enhance the safety of people in distress.
In all our practical work, trust enhancing, not fear inducing dialogue and body language are of paramount importance.
[1]. I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with the word, it’s just that it feels like a mechanic fixing a car, or a surgeon removing an appendix, and it has a one-way knowledge flow ring to it. It is probably best used in the context of crisis where the receiver of the help is in such distress that, for a limited time anyway, the knowledge flow needs to be one way.