Mental health professionals' experiences with applying a family-centred care focus in their clinical work

Abstract

Family members play vital roles in supporting their young adults with mental health challenges, implying that professionals are challenged to apply a Family-Centred Care approach (FCC) in community mental health services. By applying a qualitative phenomengraphic approach, this study aimed to explore and describe professionals’ experiences of applying a FCC approach. Based on data from 13 individual interviews, the descriptive categories were: Mutual understanding, Facing dilemmas and Dealing with barriers. Despite the professionals’ expressed desires to involve the family, individual treatment and follow-up seemed to characterize their daily clinical practice, often due to the young adults’ own wishes.