CHAPTER 13 Strategic Family Therapies Family Therapy History

CHAPTER 13: Strategic Family Therapies Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice 6 th Edition Samuel T. Gladding Developed by Nathaniel N. Ivers, Wake Forest University © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Overview • Overview of Strategic Family Therapy • Influence of Milton Erickson • Major theorists • Premises of theory • Techniques • Roles of therapist • Processes and Outcomes • Uniqueness of the Therapy Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6 th Ed. © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 13 -2

Strategic Family Therapies • Strategic Family Therapies are method oriented and brief in duration. • Influenced by the work of Milton Erickson • Three distinct branches of strategic family therapy • The strategic family therapists of the mental research institute • The strategic family therapists of the Family Therapy Institute (Jay Haley) • The strategic family therapists of the Milan Institute Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6 th Ed. © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 13 -3

Strategic Family Therapy: Influence of Milton Erickson • The term, strategic therapy, was coined by Jay Haley to describe the work of Milton Erickson • Milton Erickson • Especially attuned to the power of the unconscious mind as a creative, often positive, solution-generating entity • Paid particular attention to details of the symptoms his clients presented Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6 th Ed. © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 13 -4

Milton Erickson Continued Achieved his objected in therapy through the following procedures: • • Accepting and emphasizing the positive • Using indirect and ambiguously worded directives • Encouraging or directing routine behaviors so that resistance is shown through change and not through normal and continuous actions Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6 th Ed. © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 13 -5

Major Strategic Theorists • Paul Watzlawick • John Weakland • Jay Haley • Cloé Madanes Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6 th Ed. © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 13 -6

Jay Haley • Learned hypnosis from Erickson in 1953 • Incorporated much of Erickson’s ideas into his own concepts about how to do therapy • First editor of the initial journal in the field of family therapy, Family Process. • Helped to organize the Institute for Family Counseling Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6 th Ed. © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 13 -7

Cloé Madanes • Born and raised in Argentina • Gentler in her approach to strategic family therapy than Haley • Developed the pretend technique • One of her lasting contributions was in the areas of sex and violence Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6 th Ed. © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 13 -8

Premises of the Theory • Follows many of Milton Erickson’s principles • Emphasize short-term treatment of about 10 sessions • “No one evaluates which solutions have so far been attempted for the patient’s problems” (Priebe & Pommerien, 1992, p. 433) Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6 th Ed. © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 13 -9

Premises of the Theory Concentrates on the following dimensions • • Family rules • Family homeostasis • Quid pro quo • Redundancy principle • Punctuation • Symmetrical relationships and complementary relationships • Circular causality Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6 th Ed. © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 13 -10

Treatment Techniques • Reframing • Directive • Nonverbal messages • Direct and indirect suggestions • Assigned behaviors Paradox (similar to prescribing the symptom) • • Restraining • Prescribing • Redefining Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6 th Ed. © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 13 -11

Treatment Techniques • Ordeals • Pretend • Positioning Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6 th Ed. © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 13 -12

Role of the Therapist • First task: Define a presenting problem so that it can be worked on and solved • Most are overtly active • Use presenting problems as a way to bring about change in families by giving the tasks that are usually carried out between sessions. Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6 th Ed. © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 13 -13

Process and Outcome • Goal: Resolve, remove, or ameliorate the problem on which the family agreed to work • Four common procedures for ensuring a successful outcome: • • Define a problem clearly and concisely • Investigate all solutions previously tried • Define a clear and concrete change to be achieved • Formulate and implement a strategy for change (Watzlawick, 1978) Focus of changing vicious cycles to virtuous ones Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6 th Ed. © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 13 -14

Unique Aspects • Flexibility • Belief that real change is possible at the individual and dyadic level • Focus on innovation and creativity • The way it can be employed with a number of otherapies, particularly behavioral and structural family therapy Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6 th Ed. © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 13 -15