Reconceptualizing Strategic Family Therapy: Insights from a Dynamic Systems Perspective

Abstract

As one of the more mature marriage and family therapy (MFT) models, strategic family therapy has a distinguished and colorful history. Part of that history includes an era when strategic therapy was considered by some to be manipulative and even unethical. Recent advances in our understanding of the behavior of complex natural systems via dynamic systems theory may shed new light on the process of strategic family therapy and help us understand more fully the underlying purposes of the preferred therapeutic stance and clinical interventions of this model. We briefly review the theoretical and empirical literature associated with strategic therapy, followed by a detailed description of dynamic systems theory concepts. We conclude by linking the theory and practice of strategic therapy to the science of dynamic systems as a means of understanding why strategic therapy is an effective form of brief therapy.

A Case Study of Cross-Dressing

“…The overarching goal of strategic therapy is to encourage the marital relationship to change the distinct behavioral patterns associated with the identified problem (Gardner, Burr, & Weidower, 2006; Thomas, 1992). In the case study couple, the distinct behavioral patterns associated with the identified problem were as follows: each person was to adhere to the societal gender norm expressions; the relationship would maintain a sense of homeostasis if each person would remain inauthentic; and problems were too anxiety provoking to be addressed so acting out behavior was seen as more permissive.…”

“…Within the third phase of strategic therapy, the counselor’s focus became the couple’s communications, because people are always communicating. In essence, problems are believed to be a result of how the clients are communicating with one another through content and command messages (Gardner et al, 2006; Metcalf, 2011; Riley, 1990). The couple benefits when the counselor views the couple’s problems and symptoms as a result of how the couple is communicating with one another (Smith et al, 2011).…”

“…A paradox directive may also be utilized when only one member of the couple would be more likely to follow a directive (Haley & Richeport-Haley, 2003; Madanes, 1981). The counselor identified the husband as, initially, the most willing person to make the smallest changes (Gardner et al, 2006). The husband was asked to let his wife know every time he was going to cross-dress, to follow through with his choice, and to not isolate before, during, or after cross-dressing.…”

“…When the counselor reframed the couple’s attempts at utilizing the directives, even when the previous command messages reappeared, the couple became encouraged to reattempt the directives. The counselor reframed the couple’s behavior as cooperative; the reframing assisted in a second-order change taking place (Foley, 1986; Gardner et al, 2006).…”

Uncovering Dynamical Properties in the Emotional System of Married Couples

“…It could be said that the strategic family therapist is seeking to perturb the family's dynamic patterns of interaction in the hopes that the family will move from the attractor state that maintains the problem to a new state that alleviates the family's symptoms. As dynamic systems theory is beginning to be applied to models of individual and family psychotherapy (e.g., Gardner et al 2006), clinicians who work with complex relationship systems are encouraged to evaluate the potential contributions such a perspective may offer their practice.…”