An experience of care with family members of victims of homicide and robbery followed by death from a systemic perspective

Abstract

This work presents the experience of family therapy, within a systemic perspective, applied in an institutional context (Cravi - Center for Reference and Support to Victims), with family members of fatal victims resulting from homicide and robbery followed by death. It sought to verify what would be the relationship between communication, blocking of the expression of feelings due to the loss, manifestations of symptoms of family members and functionality of mourning. It also sought to evaluate whether it was possible, within a brief perspective, to contribute with these family members so that, from a more open communication, they could move forward in their lives without having to develop symptoms. The report of a case was used to make the qualitative evaluation, based on the description of the family care and the indication of the main interventions carried out, having as a basis the systemic theoretical assumptions. It was observed that from a work of removing the obstacles and blockages that prevented a more open, clear and direct communication among the members of the family system, it was possible for them to share the experience of the loss lived, express the feelings arising from it and abandon patterns of interaction and dysfunctional expressions through emotional and physical symptoms. The family was able to find its own functionality of mourning and move forward.