John's story: an application of the Calgary Family Intervention Model

This article resulted from both authors sharing their professional experience; it illustrates an application of the Calgary Family Assessment Model (CFAM) and Calgary Family Intervention Model (CFIM) by Lorraine Wright and Maureen Leahey (1994). Indeed, some of the theoretical concepts presented by these authors were used to guide our analysis of the clinical situation. This brief intervention, consisting of four meetings, aimed to promote family coping during the palliative phase. Throughout each of the meetings, the nurse illustrates the principles guiding therapeutic conversations with the family, i.e. generating hypotheses, circularity, and neutrality. Through her intervention, she facilitates the continuation of the story, but without John.