How to Coach Yourself and Others Coaching Families | Page 98

Fifth, the therapist discredits whomever is the controlling figure of the issue.
Next the therapist replaces the controlling figure with their own authority and issues a new directive to fix
the family’s identified problem. The new directive for the family is usually to paradoxically do more of the
problem symptom, and thereby to highlight it more within the family.
Finally the therapist learns the outcome of the directive and seeks to push the paradox even further until the
family rebels, or change occurs within the family.

Hands-on approach
Strategic family therapy differs from many other models of therapy in that the therapist takes a more hands
on approach to fixing the family’s problems, and attempts to insert themselves into the problem as part of
the solution to the family’s problems. Most other models of therapy stay away from a format like this,
because of the inherent dangers within the practice, such as the family not following along with the
therapist, or the therapist losing sight of their proper role within the family. Strategic family therapy appears
to be a therapy that when utilized correctly can be used to address long standing family issues in a new and
imaginative manner, but comes along with many pitfalls if the therapist isn’t able to control the sessions as
the theory dictates.

Who Does it Help?
All families face challenges. ADD/ADHD, depression and substance abuse are a few of examples of issues
that can affect a family unit. If a child were dealing with any of the previous issues and had become
estranged from the family, the therapist would bring everyone together in a clinical setting to watch how
they interact. Then he could work closely with everyone in the family to implement and execute solutions to
help correct the dysfunctional behavior.

References
1.http://www.mri.org/strategic_family_therapy.html
2.Goldenbeg, Goldenberg, 2008

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