• Summarize the key points of both structural family therapy and strategic family therapy.
• Compare structural family therapy to strategic family therapy, noting the strengths and weaknesses of each.
• Provide an example of a family in your practicum using a structural family map. Note: Be sure to maintain HIPAA regulations.
Info about family
Client is a 35-year-old male with Schizophrenia. Client currently receives ECT in outpatient clinic. He is sexually preoccupied, very child-like. Client, mother and father is being seen today in family therapy. Client resides with his parents and states that his parents continue to treat him like a child. Parents state that they are afraid of letting him do things on his own because of his mental illness. Parents are encouraged to allow client to have responsibilities and be involved socially. Keeping him isolated enables him, therefore he becomes dependent on them. Client and parents agree to encourage client to make decisions on his own. Will follow up with client and parents in 2 weeks.
• Recommend a specific therapy for the family, and justify your choice using the Learning Resources.
Nichols, M. (2014). The essentials of family therapy (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Chapter 5, “Bowen Family Systems Therapy” (pp. 69–88)
Chapter 6, “Strategic Family Therapy” (pp. 89–109)
Chapter 7, “Structural Family Therapy” (pp. 110–128)
McNeil, S. N., Herschberger, J. K., & Nedela, M. N. (2013). Low-income families with potential adolescent gang involvement: A structural community family therapy integration model. American Journal of Family Therapy, 41(2), 110–120. doi:10.1080/01926187.2011.649110
Méndez, N. A., Qureshi, M. E., Carnerio, R., & Hort, F. (2014). The intersection of Facebook and structural family therapy volume 1. American Journal of Family Therapy, 42(2), 167–174. doi:10.1080/01926187.2013.794046
Nichols, M., & Tafuri, S. (2013). Techniques of structural family assessment: A qualitative analysis of how experts promote a systemic perspective. Family Process, 52(2), 207–215. doi:10.1111/famp.12025
Ryan, W. J., Conti, R. P., & Simon, G. M. (2013). Presupposition compatibility facilitates treatment fidelity in therapists learning structural family therapy. American Journal of Family Therapy, 41(5), 403–414. doi:10.1080/01926187.2012.727673
Sheehan, A. H., & Friedlander, M. L. (2015). Therapeutic alliance and retention in brief strategic family therapy: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 41(4), 415–427. doi:10.1111/jmft.12113
Szapocznik, J., Muir, J. A., Duff, J. H., Schwartz, S. J., & Brown, C. H. (2015). Brief strategic family therapy: Implementing evidence-based models in community settings. Psychotherapy Research, 25(1), 121–133. doi:10.1080/10503307.2013.856044
Sample Solution
