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Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
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Family Distance Matters

Torunn Stene Nøvik

Sogn Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Norway

May-Britt Solem

Oslo University College, Norway

In child psychiatric work strategies for engaging the family in strengthening the child’s coping should be included as part of the treatment plan. As family members experience the reality of the family differently, information from each family member provides a broader picture of the family. Clinicians can help the family achieve insights into relationships and roles by using a figure placement technique, the Kvebaek Family Sculpture Technique (KFST). We examined distances in KFST figure placements made by mothers, fathers and adolescents in order to explore closeness and distance, or family cohesion. We found that families often perceived changes in the perception of distance between family members following family therapy. Assessments by family members, as well as by clinicians, are needed to catch the complexity of family cohesion. A dialogue with the family about the various perspectives presented by family members contributes to a new understanding of family interaction.

Key Words: emotional closeness • emotional distance • family cohesion • figure placement techniques • Kvebaek Family Sculpture Technique

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Vol. 8, No. 2, 261-271 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/1359104503008002009
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