As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I’ve seen firsthand how trauma and loss deeply impact families, leaving each member with unique experiences and unspoken pain. These challenges often strain communication, create misunderstandings, and disrupt the bonds that hold families together.
The FOCUS Family Resilience Program offers a clear pathway to healing and reconnection. Developed by Dr. William R. Saltzman, a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy Master’s Program at California State University, Long Beach, FOCUS was originally designed to address the unique challenges of military families. Recognizing its broader applicability, Dr. Saltzman expanded the program to serve civilian families in mental health clinics, medical facilities, and schools.
What Makes a Family Resilient?
Resilient families share key traits: clear, honest communication and the ability to openly express emotions. These skills are especially important during times of stress and change. When communication is vague or distorted, families lose essential tools for adapting. For example, when parents withhold information or try to overly soften serious topics, children often fill in the blanks with worst-case scenarios.
How FOCUS Helps
The FOCUS program provides families with practical tools and a supportive environment to rebuild connection and resilience. Key features include:
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Shared Storytelling: An innovative timeline technique gives each family member a chance to share their experiences, fostering understanding and empathy.
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Enhanced Communication: FOCUS encourages open and honest discussions, helping families express needs, understand perspectives, and resolve conflicts constructively.
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Meaning-Making: Families process their experiences together, finding meaning and a renewed sense of purpose.
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Strengthened Bonds: The program nurtures deeper connections and builds empathy, fostering a sense of belonging and security.
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Reduced Distress: By addressing emotional and psychological impacts, FOCUS helps reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress.
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Increased Resilience: Families gain coping strategies, problem-solving skills, and a sense of hope, empowering them to thrive.
Who Can Benefit?
FOCUS has proven effective for a wide range of families facing various challenges:
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Military Families: Coping with deployment stress, combat-related trauma, reintegration difficulties, and injuries or loss.
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Families with Young Children: Helping parents support children in processing trauma and fostering healthy attachment.
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Families Facing Medical Trauma: Managing the stress and uncertainty of illness or injury.
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Families Experiencing Bereavement: Providing a safe space to grieve, share memories, and find meaning after loss.
A Strength-Based Approach to Healing
The FOCUS Family Resilience Program emphasizes narrative sharing, skill-building, and family-centered care. It’s been shown to reduce distress, promote healing, and strengthen family bonds across diverse populations and settings. By focusing on family narratives as a path to understanding and resilience, FOCUS aligns with a strength-based approach to therapy that empowers families to overcome challenges and thrive.
The program’s scalability through its training institute ensures its benefits can reach a wider audience, meeting the unique needs of diverse populations.
Take the First Step
If your family is struggling with the impact of trauma or loss, don’t face it alone. The FOCUS Family Resilience Program provides a compassionate and practical approach to healing and reconnection. Explore how this program can help you strengthen your bonds and build a brighter, more resilient future.
