How to Coach Yourself and Others Coaching Families | Page 97

The goal-setting stage is used to highlight the specific issue that needs to be addressed, this issue is both
identified by the family members and the therapist. In addition when discussing the presenting problem
initially identified by the family, the family and the therapist work together to come up with goals to fix the
problem, and better define the parameters for attaining those goals.
The final stage of the initial session is the task-setting stage. In the task-setting stage the therapist wraps up
the session by coming up with concrete homework assignments or directives the family can do outside of
therapy to start to change their problems. Additional therapy sessions seek to further gain understanding to a
family’s problems, dynamics, and to dig deeper in addressing their needs through a confident, controlling,
and compassionate therapist.

Homework assignments
In SFT the assigning of homework or directives that take place outside of therapy is essential to the therapy
having a successful outcome. The underlying goal of the homework is to try to change the way the family
dynamics function around the presenting problem that was identified in session. Different from other
theories, the therapists take a more active and controlling approach in dealing with the family. They seek to
impose upon the family new directives that fundamentally alter the way the family functions. The therapists
use the initial session to gain trust and understanding with the family so that the therapists' commands to the
family are followed through in a manner where the family has confidence and trust in the therapists'
intentions.
There are some specific assumptions for family communications that SFT utilizes that are unique to SFT.
The communication models utilized are; “Every communication has a content report, and a relationship
command aspect.”, “Relationships are defined by commanding messages.”, “Relationships may be
described as symmetrical or complementary.”, and “Symmetrical relationships run the risk of becoming
competitive.” Once a therapist establishes the mechanisms of control, and command in a family, the
methods of communication can be further broken down by identifying double-binds in a family and
paradoxical injunctions. These are forms of unhealthy communication that send two messages at the same
time, and that contradict one another.
Since SFT seeks to change family dynamics on multiple levels that may contradict one another,
understanding how to achieve first-order change and second-order change are key for SFTs success. Firstorder change, are those symptoms that are superficial and obvious to correct. For example pointing out body
language within the family. Second-order change would be the more difficult to achieve changes within the
very basic construct of a family structure, to bring about positive changes.

Interventions
Some less complicated but often used interventions in SFT would be, prescribing the symptom, relabeling,
and paradoxical interventions. Prescribing the symptom would be when the therapist attempts to exaggerate
a specific symptom within the family to help the family understand how damaging that symptom is to the
family. The relabeling intervention is done within the session by the therapist to change the connotation of
one symptom from negative to positive. In this way the family can view the symptom in a new context or
have a new conceptual understanding of the symptom.
Finally a paradoxical intervention is similar to prescribing the symptom, but is a more in depth intervention
than prescribing the symptom.
Initially the therapist tries to change the family’s low expectations to one where change within the family
can happen.
Second, the issue that the family wishes to fix is identified in a clear and concise manner.
Third, and in line with the goal-setting stage, the therapist seeks to get the family to agree to exactly what
their goals are in addressing their problem.
Fourth, the therapist comes up with very specific plans for the family to address their issue.

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