Family Therapy: Indications and Rationale

‘Oh no! Not the Smiths again!’ An exploration of how to identify and overcome ‘stuckness’ in family therapy

“…No matter how painful or peculiar their behaviour, it represents the best possible solution they have been able to find so far (Watzlawick et al, 1974). Furthermore it is at least familiar and 'as bad as they are, these known patterns (of behaviour) may be better than anything else the family can envisage' (Greenberg et al, 1964). As such the family's 'solution' demands the therapist's respect and it is therefore best to assume that if a family proves incapable of change then there are fundamental reasons why this should be so.…”

Selection Criteria for Family Therapy

“… Whenever psychiatric hospitalization is being considered a family evaluation is usually indicated for one or more of the following reasons (29, 14): …”

“… More than one family member is simultaneously in psychiatric treatment. Improvement in the individual patient is correlated with symptom formation in another family member or deterioration in their relationship. Individual or group treatment has been tried and is failing or has failed (13, 14), and: …”

The Results of Family Therapy: A Critical Review of the Literature

“…This section will also summarize the results of the studies of Coughlin and Wimberger (9), Fitzgerald (11), Greenberg, et al , (17), MacGregor (30), and Safer (40). These differ from the studies noted above in their employment of a follow‐up assessment of outcome, but they are similar in their reliance upon subjective clinical evaluation, supplemented by client reports, as their sole criteria of outcome.…”

“…, Fitzgerald(11),Greenberg, et al.,(17), MacGregor(30), and Safer(40). These differ from the studies noted above in their employment of a follow-up assessment of outcome, but they are similar in their reliance upon subjective clinical evaluation, supplemented by client reports, as their sole criteria of outcome.Finally, the studies reported by Freeman, et al (13), Sigal, et al (42) and Minuchin et al (34) attempt to develop methods of assessing outcome that move beyond the limited parameters of clinical judgement or client report.…”