It's devastating to watch a family member battle with schizophrenia. Though the afflicted relative needs to continue with an individualized treatment plan, can reduce relapse, as well as help relatives cope with this mental illness.
Instructions
Find a Therapist
1. Contact your health insurance or Medicaid/Medicare to determine what type of mental health treatment your plan covers and your benefit limits. Some plans might allow more visits to certain health care providers such as a nurse, social worker or psychologist and less visits to providers who might charge higher rates like a psychiatrist.
2. Obtain a list of mental health care providers covered under your plan from your insurance company, and pick a few marriage and family therapists from the list. These are the therapists who can provide the treatment you need.
3. Get a few referrals before making an appointment. Your primary care physician can refer a specialist. Specify characteristics that are important to you such as age, sex, race or religious background.
4. Call to find out about the therapist's education, years in practice, expertise and experience with family therapy for schizophrenia. Ask about appointment availability, location, fees and payment plans. Verify that the therapist accepts your health insurance or Medicaid/Medicare.
5. Make an appointment if you're satisfied with the answers.
What to Expect in Therapy
6. Learn about the signs, symptoms and treatments of schizophrenia. As you learn about the illness during therapy, you'll develop ways to help your relative stick to a treatment plan.
7. Uncover the early signs of relapse. By listening to the the family member with schizophrenia discuss what triggers relapse, your therapist can help you understand ways to help her avoid harmful situations.
8. Explore connections between family expectations and emotional responses. As each family member talks about their perceived role in relation to the ill family member, each relative can uncover appropriate ways to react to him.
9. Improve communication and problem solving skills within the family. Everyone expressing their feelings in the same room can help cope with and reduce distress about the illness.
Tags: family member, about illness, care providers, cope with, family therapy, health care