Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003 VII. Contemporary Models of Family Therapy Power Point presentation prepared by Leslie Barnes-Young, PhD, Francis Marion University “This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of program.”

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003 Postmodernism Since the founding of the classic schools of family therapy, there has occurred a shift in emphasis. The postmodern or constructivist position assumes that there is no objective reality. Our reality is but one of many shaped by our use of language. One consequence has been to make therapists humbler in dealing with families.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003 Solution-Focused Therapy Basic Concepts This popular model has its roots in the strategic approaches. Assumes that people become constrained by narrow, pessimistic views of their problems. Therapists get clients to concentrate on solutions to problems that have worked.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003 Solution-Focused Therapy: Therapeutic Techniques Formula first session task– asks the client to identify what happens in their life that they want to continue. The miracle question–helps clients look beyond the problem & toward a goal. Scaling questions–”On a scale of 1 to 10, how depressed do you feel right now?”

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003 Narrative Therapy: Basic Concepts Concern is with the way people construct meaning rather than the way they behave. Personal experience is fundamentally ambiguous and shaped by the words used to describe it. Our explanations of our experiences are our stories and we organize life by them.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003 Narrative Therapy: Therapeutic Techniques The goal of therapy is to transform clients’ stories and alter their identities. This is done by separating people from their problems. Exceptions to the prevailing problem narrative are highlighted. The centerpiece of therapy is questioning.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003 Postmodernism online: Solution-Focused Therapy Narrative Therapy