Child-focused strategic and behavioral therapy processes.

Abstract

This article provides theoretical and practical descriptions of child-focused behavior therapy and strategic therapy approaches. Each model is illustrated through case illustrations.According to a mail survey of members in the APA Division of Psychotherapy, descriptive studies that carefully detail psychotherapy process are among the most useful and practical types of publications to practicing psychotherapists (Morrow-Bradley & Elliot, 1986). However, the child treatment research literature and, to some degree, books and manuals on particular treatments have failed to describe carefully the in-session active ingredients that work to induce change. For example, in most studies of child-focused behavior therapy, statements such as, "The clients were persuaded to implement (the behavioral techniques)," are all that have been written in describing the process between therapist and client that leads to clinical improvement.This article describes the processes that occur during the psychotherapy sessions of two popular and widely used child-focused therapy approaches. One of these therapies is the Behavior Therapy approach, and the other is what has come to be called the Strategic Therapy approach. Recent case studies and comparative outcome research have shown both of these models to be effective in reducing child symptoms (Morris & Szykula, 1985;Szykula & Morris, 1984). Moreover, both approaches have been evaluated by consumers to be people-pleasing treatments that are effective in producing positive side benefits (improved marital relations, etc.), and very few negative side Special thanks to Julia Laylander, science editor, for her suggestions and revisions.

Child-focused behavior and strategic therapies: Outcome comparisons.

“…This preliminary study reports on whether or not the strategic therapy approach compares in efficacy to behavior therapy on the following dimensions: a) target complaint improvement; b) client satisfaction; c) positive side effects; and d) negative side effects. Readers are referred to Szykula (1987) for a complete description of the two treatment approaches.…”

Mulheres dependentes de álcool: levantamento transgeracional do genograma familiar

“…O Enfoque Estratégico foi desenvolvido a partir do projeto de Bateson sobre a esquizofrenia, no qual comportamentos e sintomas da família são entendidos como uma forma de comunicação de que algo maior no sistema está disfuncional, uma tentativa da família de solucionar as dificuldades de interação (Nelson, Figley, 1990 (Szykula, 1987;Nelson, Figley, 1990;Hoo, 1997;Nichols, Schwartz, 2007).…”