Research

For years psychomotor family therapy (PMFT) has been described as a valuable form of therapy for various pathologies and several family questions  (Visser, Albrechts, Maurer & Krot, 2010; Maurer, Visser, Albrechts & Krot, 2011). Nowadays this method is mainly used in practice because psychomotor therapists and family therapists know how to find each other in cooperation. As far as measuring effectiveness of psychomotor family therapy is concerned, much work still needs to be done. The first article about the effects of PMGT was recently published (Verschuur & Kramer, 2018).

Marco Visser, psychomotor therapist, family therapist and trainer at Euthopia and Prof. Tine van Damme from KU Leuven, have a collaboration since 2018. They started a pilot research and recieved some financial support from the Flemish and the Dutch association for psychomotor therapy (VVPMT and NVPMT)

Research design

A mixed model design will be used for this pilot study. Quantitative data will be obtained by means of questionnaires and an observation assignment. Qualitative data will be obtained through in-depth interviews. The combination of quantitative and qualitative data offers the opportunity to gain a broad impression of the possible influences of the PMFT. The design of the study is explorative, so that a conscious choice can be made later on for a possible follow-up study.

We have formulated the following research questions:

1 What is the influence of (the multidisciplinary treatment with) PMFT on the stress level and the empowerment of the parent (s) ?

2. What are the differences in interactions between family members during a collaborative assignment before and after PMFT treatment?

3. How is the influence of PMFT assessed by family members and estimated by PMFT therapists? a. What is described by family members as important interventions and what is missed by family members? b. What is described by PMFT therapists as important interventions for the family members?

We hope to complete this study in 2021.

Contact

Would you like to know more about this research or PMFT?

Visit www.gezinspmt.nl or contact Marco Visser marco@euthopia.nl or prof. Dr. Tine van Damme tine.vandamme@kuleuven.be