Family-Based Intensive Trauma Treatment for Youth with PTS Symptoms After Family Violence: A Qualitative Study of Youths’ Perspectives on Treatment Outcomes, Key Components, and Barriers and Facilitators for Treatment Success

Family violence affects the lives of youth and their families. Treatment offers an opportunity to reduce the possible long-term negative consequences of family violence. Efforts to further develop treatments by including family relationships and condensing treatment into a high-intensive format require reflection from the perspective of youth themselves. In this study, youth in an intensive trauma treatment trial with or without a family based component, were interviewed afterwards. They reported improvements for themselves. Those who received treatment with the family component also reported improving parental and family outcomes. Youth identified as key elements the combination and variety of trauma-focused components and therapist rotation. They perceived that the family-based component created a supportive context, addressing family safety and parent mental health. Youth who did not receive the family-based component had mixed assumptions toward participation of family members. Several facilitators and barriers for treatment success were identified. Findings highlight the importance of including the voices of youth when trying to understand changes within the therapeutic process. Furthermore, youths’ preferences for treatment and their considerations on inclusion of family members need to be attended to.