There is a need for and appreciation of clear descriptions of psychotherapy processes (Morrow-Bradley & Elliott, 1986). Furthermore, it is relatively rare to find descriptions of therapeutic approaches being applied to identical clinical problems. This article presents typical in-session descriptions of Child-Focused Behavioral and Strategic Family Therapy models using identical hypothetical case studv comoarisons for each model. The authors orovide a brief s u m m a 6 of each therapy approach, the hypothetidal case which illustrates and conceotualizes both aooroaches consistent with their respective theories, a'discussion of tbk similarities and differences between each therapy model, and a commentary about the utility of presenting these comparative hypothetical cases. The authors do not attempt to determine the efficacy of one treatment approach as opposed to the other, but do offer a comparative examina- JOURNAL OF FAMILY PSYCHOTHERAPYtion of each model as it is effectively utilized with a teenage referral and her mother.

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A case study is presented that exposes the psychotherapy technique of “consciousness streaming” to an empirical analysis of its potency. This technique is proposed to be one way of reducing “resistance” (as defined herein) of some clients. The subject was an adult female with a diagnosis of major depression and borderline personality disorder. Applied behavioral analyses of her in-therapy, verbal responses to consciousness streaming and therapeutic interviewing are compared. The data indicated that the consciousness streaming technique was superior to therapeutic interviewing in producing higher purity ratios (as opposed to frequency) of therapeutically relevant client verbalizations. A discussion on the utility of this experimental demonstration is presented, and suggestions are offered for future research and clinical application.