CHAPTER 13:
Strategic Family Therapies
Family Therapy: History, Theory, and
Practice
6th 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 the theory
•
Techniques
•
Roles of the therapist
•
Processes and Outcomes
•
Uniqueness of the Therapy
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Strategic Family Therapies
•
Strategic Family Therapies are method oriented
and brief in duration.
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Influenced by the work of Milton Erickson
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Three distinct branches of strategic family therapy
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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, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Strategic Family Therapy: Influence of Milton
Erickson
•
The term, strategic therapy, was coined by Jay
Haley to describe the work of Milton Erickson
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Milton Erickson
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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, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Milton Erickson Continued
Achieved his objected in therapy through the
following procedures:
•
•
Accepting and emphasizing the positive
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Using indirect and ambiguously worded
directives
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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, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Major Strategic Theorists
•
Paul Watzlawick
•
John Weakland
•
Jay Haley
•
Cloé Madanes
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Jay Haley
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Learned hypnosis from Erickson in 1953
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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, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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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, 6th 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, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Premises of the Theory
Concentrates on the following dimensions
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Family rules
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Family homeostasis
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Quid pro quo
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Redundancy principle
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Punctuation
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Symmetrical relationships and complementary
relationships
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Circular causality
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Treatment Techniques
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Reframing
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Directive
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Nonverbal messages
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Direct and indirect suggestions
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Assigned behaviors
Paradox (similar to prescribing the symptom)
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Restraining
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Prescribing
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Redefining
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Treatment Techniques
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Ordeals
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Pretend
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Positioning
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Role of the Therapist
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First task: Define a presenting problem so that it
can be worked on and solved
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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, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Process and Outcome
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Goal: Resolve, remove, or ameliorate the problem
on which the family agreed to work
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Four common procedures for ensuring a
successful outcome:
•
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Define a problem clearly and concisely
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Investigate all solutions previously tried
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Define a clear and concrete change to be
achieved
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Formulate and implement a strategy for change
(Watzlawick, 1978)
Focus of changing vicious cycles to virtuous ones
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
13-14
Unique Aspects
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Flexibility
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Belief that real change is possible at the individual
and dyadic level
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Focus on innovation and creativity
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The way it can be employed with a number of
other therapies, particularly behavioral and
structural family therapy
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
13-15