During Week 2, you will begin to learn about one of the first named systemic models of MFT, strategic therapy. Strategic therapy assumes that “the problem” in therapy comes from a cycle of interactions between family members that must be interrupted or reversed (Dallos & Draper, 2010). The strategic therapist utilizes some techniques where the therapist breaks the cycle of interaction by joining the system and challenging the system. As you learn more about the strategic model in your readings, you will see how the model can both be effective and challenging for some people when it comes to the therapist’s power in the therapy room.
A couple of strategic interventions include directive tasks and paradoxical tasks (Dallos & Draper, 2010). In a directive task, the therapist will direct the family to do something “different” during the week. Sometimes this can be a simple request (e.g., a mother is asked to notice and respond to a child’s good behaviors) and at times can seem almost humorous (e.g., two siblings out of three are continually arguing, and the therapist has them both argue with the third sibling). The idea is that a shift in the system will occur. With a paradoxical intervention, the family is asked to do more of exactly what they say the problem is. For example, with the two siblings arguing, the therapist might ask them to argue more. With these interventions, change can come from both a shift in the way the system interacts and through the family seeing how the interaction actually is influencing them. As you can imagine, gender, power, privilege, culture, and other differences could play a role in how effective this model might be with clients.
References
Dallos, R., & Draper, R. (2010). An introduction to family therapy. [electronic resource]: Systemic theory and practice. Open University Press.
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