Do you know brief strategic family therapy?

The objective of brief strategic family therapy is to overcome specific problems for which the family requires help. Another objective, closely related, is to improve the relationships established within it.

Brief strategic family therapy is made up of various approaches with a common feature. The therapist will be the one who will define the strategy to solve the family’s problems.

This therapy maintains the characteristics of strategic therapy and brief therapy. Brief strategic family therapy focuses on solutions above all else and lasts between 6 and 20 sessionsthat is why it is called “brief”.

The birth of family therapies

There is disagreement as to who was the precursor of family therapies. On the one hand, there is evidence that Psychodynamic therapists were the first to include the family in the therapeutic process.

Were therapists like Murray Bowen, with his family systems theory, or Nathan Ackerman, with his family symbiosisthe first to invite the entire family to participate in the therapy of one of its members.

On the other hand, Research on communication, carried out in Palo Alto, encouraged the creation of the first systemic psychotherapeutic research institute. It was named the Palo Alto Mental Research Institute (MRI). Brief systemic therapies are derived from this.

What is brief strategic family therapy?

Brief strategic family therapy is a family therapy approach. Therefore, Its objective is to solve problems that arise within the family. It has its origin in the systemic model developed at the Mental Research Institute and the Palo Alto Group (MRI).

This therapy model also draws from the sources of the problem-solving model, the contributions of the Milan group and the constructivist model.. It draws on previous contributions and was born with the objective of seeing what works about the different models and how to implement it in the shortest possible time.

Brief strategic family therapy observes family interactions. It tries to involve each member in the therapeutic process and it develops in different stages, which we will see later.

Brief strategic therapy

Brief strategic therapy is defined as a therapeutic structure aimed at increasing patients’ awareness of their behaviors.. These behaviors represent the problem for which you are consulting.

One of the strong points of brief strategic therapy is that it is an intervention modality that allows adjustment to current demands. It is aimed at effectiveness and shortening the period of psychotherapy.

In addition, It is aimed at increasing the capacity and motivation to start doing something about it.. The various studies on this matter conclude that what works is focusing on solutions rather than problems.

What makes a therapy strategic is the attitude of the clinician. It is he who initiates what happens in it and actively designs a particular approach to each problem. The initiative and responsibility are with the therapist. He aims to directly influence people, in such a way that said change occurs.

To be strategic is to be, in a certain way, “manipulative” or “persuasive.”, since there are assigned tasks, some to do and others not to do. Implicative language, behavioral traps, use of paradoxes, etc. are used.

Basic principles of brief strategic family therapy

The most general basic principles on which brief strategic family therapy is based are the following: (Watzlawick and Nardone, 2000):

Circular causality

Faced with a certain situation, one should not fall into the cause-effect equation. Interest must be placed in the study of the variables involved. To understand this better let’s give an example.

Blaming an authoritarian parent for his child’s problematic behavior would be falling into reductionism. The correct thing would be to define both behaviors, along with those of the other members. The factors that maintain the situation must be described, as well as those that protect it from getting worse.

Reducing complexity

Families are complex entities.. So are the models that study and intervene in them. Brief strategic family therapy aims to be an alternative and proposes a specific intervention for specific problems.

The solutions attempted

The solutions attempted are the maximum focus of this therapy.. We must answer questions such as what worked in the past or currently and what can we establish as a reference point?

Another basic principle of brief strategic family therapy would be to break down the system in such a way that you can try new solutions and even changes in its structure. A final principle tells us that A strategic construction, derived from the rupture of the previous one, will be a modified, more adaptive and healthy structure.

Therefore, the strategic approach attempts to adopt a new conception about how we relate as a family. And above all, What can we do to improve those relationships.

Phases of brief strategic family therapy

Brief strategic family therapy is developed in the following phases (Nardone and Watzlawick, 2000):

First interview

It begins with a social stage in which the family is received. The family is invited to explain the problem, each member from their perspective. Afterwards, a first feedback is given on how the situation looks and the approaches for the next session.

Descriptive analysis of the problem situation

A detailed analysis is carried out based on two or more family members and the problems for which the family is making the claim. Besides, An essential part of this analysis will be the solutions that have been previously attempted.

Then the objectives of the therapy are defined. The therapist, from the first meeting with the patient, focuses attention and assessment on the following elements:

What happens within the three types of interdependent relationships that the subject lives with himself, with others and with the world.The way in which the problem presented works within that relational system.How the subject has tried up to that moment to combat or solve the problem.How is it possible to change such a problematic situation in the fastest and most effective way.

Definition of family strategy

The solutions that will be tried in the future are defined. These solutions must be carried out by the family to improve their situation.

Measurement and planning

In this phase the effects of the applied strategies will be measured. Then new strategies will be planned.

Closing of the intervention

Finally, the monitoring the situation to guarantee the consolidation of the changes achieved.

The results of brief strategic family therapy are immediate and measurable. As we said at the beginning, the number of sessions varies between 1 and 40 (the average is 6 to 20 sessions).

In general terms, Brief strategic family therapy is characterized by focusing on the solution and defining objectives aimed at change. The foundation of a solid therapeutic alliance is key and language adapted to the family is used.

Bibliographic references

Watzlawick, P., Beavin, J.H., & Jackson, D.D. (1983). Human communication Theory. Barcelona: Herder.

Haley, J. (1980). Problem-solving therapy. Buenos Aires: Amorrortu.

DeShazer, S. (1992). Keys in brief psychotherapy. Barcelona: Gedisa.

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