Currently the described intervention programs for adult cancer patients and their school-age children are scarce, not explicitly evidence-based or not supported by a theoretical framework. However, these patients and their children are badly affected psychosocially. First we defined our objectives for this group on the basis of the changes in the parent-child relationship and the dual processmodel for grief, which assumes that in a healthy ad- justment process, the concern with loss is interspersed with other activities or distractions. On that basis, we have developed an intervention program consisting of family therapy in conjunction with grouptherapy for children. We then investigated whether the aid provided was in line with the needs of the families. The help provided to both parent and child, seems to meet expectations.
Group therapy with children, family therapy, oncology, play therapy, attachment, Dual process model
The tPeP (Journal Person-centered experiential Psychotherapy) is the scientific journal for Dutch and Flemish psychotherapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists, that work from, or are interested in a client-centered perspective.
