Strategic Family Therapy
What is strategic family therapy?
Strategic family therapy is a type of therapy where the therapist is a problem-solver and focuses on finding solutions to challenges that families are facing.
How does strategic family therapy work?
Strategic family therapy is a short-term, structured style of therapy. There stages involved include:
Observation
The therapist observes how your family interacts and ensure the therapy setting is safe and comfortable for all members of the family.
Determining the problem
The therapist will ask you questions to determine the exact problem that your family is experiencing.
Family dynamics
Your family discusses the problem with the therapist who will have a better idea of the hierarchy, patterns of communication and behaviour, and the way you interact as a family.
Goal setting
Your family, together with the therapist will come up with goals for therapy, and strategies for achieving those goals.
Action
Your therapist will come up with and assign tasks to your and your family members to complete and to arrange for future sessions if needed.
When is strategic family therapy used?
This type of therapy is useful in helping families with the following concerns:
- Blended family adjustment
- Family issues
- Family violence
- Interracial families and relationships
- Divorce or separation
- Developmental disorders
- Personality disorders
- Premarital counselling
- Relationship dependence
This type of therapy may be used to treat other conditions and concerns in addition to those listed above. It may also be used in conjunction with other treatment methods. Your therapist will work with you to determine the best treatment method for your individual circumstances.
You should be aware that there is no treatment method that is successful for every person. What works for you, may not work for someone else.
What to expect from therapy
Put simply, you will get out of therapy what you put into it. It’s not a magic solution that will solve all your problems. It may involve you doing some real work and being completely honest with yourself and your therapist. Sometimes facing our truth is the hardest thing of all – but from that discomfort can come healing and growth.
Insight’s therapists are available for in-person, online, or telephone counselling at several locations in Alberta. Contact us to learn more.
