“This book is a must read for every clinician who works with families. It describes a mature clinical model, a “love therapy,” that is one of the most well researched family therapy models at our disposal. The writers do an impressive job of describing this kind of family work in clear and easy to understand ways. The concepts are aptly illustrated with engaging and compelling case examples that illustrate the complexities of families and the challenging decision points of therapists who work to help them. The authors address in detail the “how to” parts of working with these families. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I learned a lot. I encourage readers to digest every word.”

—Adrian J. Blow, PhD, Professor of Couple and Family Therapy, Michigan State University

Description:

Brief strategic family therapy (BSFT) is an evidence-based intervention for diagnosing and correcting patterns of family interactions that are linked to distressing experiences and symptoms in children ages 6–18.

This clinical guide shows practitioners how to transform family interactions from conflictive to collaborative, from habitual to proactive, so that the love trapped behind the anger can flourish, and family members can re-bond in loving and mutually caring relationships.

Readers of this book will learn how to engage families that are reluctant to become involved in family therapy, and structure a 12- to 16-week intervention that will effect powerful behavioral change. Therapists help adults learn to collaborate with one another to nurture, guide, and handle misbehavior among children and teens.

Dozens of detailed clinical examples show practitioners how to navigate family complexities, and how to work through the challenging decision points they present.

Contents:

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1. Basic Concepts of Brief Strategic Family Therapy • Family Systems • Structure: The Script for the Family Play • Strategy • Context • Process Versus Content: A Critical Distinction • Advice to Therapists • Key Takeaways

Chapter 2. Joining: Preparing the Terrain • Creating the Therapeutic System • Joining Techniques • Advice to Therapists • Key Takeaways

Chapter 3. Diagnosing Family Systems Patterns of Interactions • Organization • Resonance • Family Developmental Stage • Identified Patienthood • Conflict Resolution • Life Context • Key Takeaways

Chapter 4. Applied Issues in Diagnosis • Encouraging Enactment • Defining Adaptive or Maladaptive Patterns • Planning Treatment on the Basis of Diagnosis • Interrelationship Between Dimensions • Key Takeaways

Chapter 5. Orchestrating Change: Restructuring • Building on Joining and Diagnosis • Working in the Present • Developing Mastery: Helping the Family Build Competence in Adaptive Interactions • The Process of Restructuring • Key Takeaways

Chapter 6. Pitfalls to Avoid • Content-Driven Therapy • About-ism • Centralization of the Therapist • Lecturing and Philosophizing • Losing the Leadership in the Therapeutic System • Doing for the Family or Playing a Family Role • Getting “Sucked” Into the Family’s Frame • Failing to Close the Deal • Key Takeaways

Chapter 7. Engaging Families Into Brief Strategic Family Therapy • Challenges for Therapists • Diagnostic Dimensions of Engagement • How to Engage Reluctant Families • Working With Challenging Family Interactional Patterns • Key Takeaways

Chapter 8. Applying Brief Strategic Family Therapy to Different Circumstances • When the Family’s Home Is the Practice Setting • Family Compositions • Special Circumstances • Key Takeaways

Chapter 9. Bringing it all Together: The Case of JJ • JJ’s Case • Engaging the Family • The First Therapy Session • Session 2 • Sessions 3 to 5 • Sessions 6 and 7 • Session 8 • Sessions 9 to 12 • Key Takeaways

Concluding Thoughts

References

About the Authors

About the Authors:

José Szapocznik, PhD, is the co-developer of brief strategic family therapy. He is professor of public health sciences, architecture, psychology, and educational and psychological studies at the University of Miami, and director of the Center for Family Studies at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

His policy roles include service on the National Institutes of Health National Advisory Councils for the National Institute on Mental Health, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

He has received more than $125 million in NIH funding and has more than 280 scholarly publications.

Olga E. Hervis, MSW, LCSW, is the co-developer of brief strategic family therapy and family effectiveness training. She has held academic positions at the University of Miami, Florida International University and Barry University.

She is a frequent consultant on scientific studies on family therapy, having served in numerous national grant review committees for the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Justice.

Olga’s work has been published in books and scholarly articles, and she has won numerous awards, including the 2000 Exemplary Model in Substance Abuse Prevention Award presented to her and José Szapocznik by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention in Washington, DC.

Target Audience:

This book will be of interest to family therapists/ practitioners interested in family conflict resolution.