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In a national questionnaire survey of clinical psychology internship sites, the status of family therapy training was investigated. With a 65 per cent response rate (182 sites), the study found that 11 per cent of all psychology Ph.D.'s, 9 per cent of all M.S.W.'s and 2 per cent of all M.D.'s on internship faculties considered themselves to be primarily family therapy oriented. Nationwide, 39 per cent of 177 internships indicated that some family therapy training was a requirement of the program; for the remaining 61 per cent, family therapy training was either optional or unavailable entirely. Of the five areas of adult, child, group, and family therapy, and psychodiagnostics, interns were viewed by most programs as being least prepared at the start of the internship to do family therapy. In terms of internship training philosophy, family therapy was rated fourth in overall importance as an essential component of an intern's experience. The family training importance rating was found to be correlated positively with the number of family courses and seminars offered, family supervision received, and family clinical work performed.     

Training staff in multiple family therapy in a children's psychiatric hospital: from theory to practice

This article describes a systematized method for training clinical staff from a variety of mental health professions while implementing supportive, process‐oriented multiple family therapy (MFT) in a children's psychiatric hospital. The model uses a step‐by‐step approach based upon learning objectives specific to the theory and practice of MFT for each stage of the process. External consultants skilled and experienced in MFT supported tuition in the initial stages. The method employs seminars with theoretical and experiential components, highlighting the major conceptual features of group, family therapy and MFT. Advanced stages of the training model include experiential learning in small groups and ongoing peer group supervision with live families. The systematic procedure has relevance for ongoing supervision, research and best standards of clinical practice in the hospital.     

Media reviews

Abstract

Dr. Maurizio Andolfi is Director of the Family Institute in Rome, Italy. He was trained in family therapy in the United States and now frequently returns to give seminars and demonstrations of his particularly gifted systems approach in the treatment of families, and in supervision of family therapists. Dr. Joel Bergman, a member of the senior faculty at the Ackerman Family Institute, reviews two of Andolfi's videotapes dealing with the supervisory process, and illustrated by actual clinical material.

The mirroring and reduplication of patterns often occurs when systems interface. Family dynamics repeat themselves across generations, and therapists and therapeutic teams easily become enmeshed in the powerful intricacies of family systems. The work of Andolfi highlights the importance of using the therapist's self-experience to illuminate and effect change in the family interactions, and the awareness of the contextual complexities of the supervisory process provides further possibilities for more enlightened intervention.—I. A.     

The image and visual analysis of the geneogram

The image and visual analysis of geneograms (family trees) drawn by subjects during the course of experiential seminars is described. Case examples are given which suggest that the visual features of the geneogram may provide useful pointers towards the exploration of relevant individual and family issues. Theoretical issues and the potential for further application of the technique in clinical practice are discussed.     

Reflections on Preparing the Group Leader for an Analytic Perspective

Preparation of group therapists for an analytic perspective involves awareness of unconscious processes at the group and individual levels. The adequately prepared group leader should have familiarity with dream interpretation and group-as-a-whole transferences. Training in the use of long-term treatment methods is useful whether or not the practitioner uses these methods in actual practice. The ideal training program would include didactic seminars, weekly supervision, the experience of conducting a long-term (at least two years) therapy group, as well as personal analytic group therapy. Previous individual analytic therapy is also encouraged.     

Human‐Animal Bonds II: The Role of Pets in Family Systems and Family Therapy

The vast majority of pet owners regard their companion animals as family members, yet the role of pets in family systems and family therapy has received little attention in research, training, and practice. This article first notes the benefits of family pets and their importance for resilience. It then examines their role in couple and family processes and their involvement in relational dynamics and tensions. Next, it addresses bereavement in the loss of a cherished pet, influences complicating grief, and facilitation of mourning and adaptation. Finally, it explores the ways that clients' pets and the use of therapists' companion animals in animal‐assisted therapy can inform and enrich couple and family therapy as valuable resources in healing.     

The Balint movement worldwide: present state and future outlook: a brief history of Balint around the world

Michael and Enid Balint began running seminars for GPs (family physicians) in London in the late 1950s. Balint groups were soon started in other countries leading to the formation of the International Balint Federation. This paper describes the activities of the Federation and surveys the health and strength of the Balint movement in different parts of the world. While formal Balint training seems unlikely to become part of the official curriculum in more than a few countries, Balint's ideas will continue to be influential.     

Maps and mapmaking: Developing the systemic paradigm of family functioning

This paper presents the Systemic Paradigm of Family Functioning (SPFF) as an organizing framework for integrating models of family therapy. Therapists can use the SPFF to understand and integrate existing models of family therapy and to create their own personal models of family therapy. The SPFF framework highlights the interrelationships among the four generic models which dominate the field of family therapy. Personal models of family therapy are based on maps of family functioning derived from one of these more generic models.     

The formalization of family therapy training—issues and implications

This paper highlights the emerging debate, particularly evident in the U.K. and Australasia, regarding the desirability of more formalized training programmes for family therapy. The professionalization of family therapy is under way. The implications of this process for training structures, the role of the family therapist, the nature of family therapy associations and thus the ultimate goals of family therapy are summarized. Alternative models of training structures, their ideological bases and the implications of these alternatives for the nature of an association and the family therapy process are then briefly discussed. In summary, some priorities for a desired model of family therapy training are listed for discussion.     

Family therapy research: Comment on “research as a family therapy intervention technique”

Wright's emphasis on and illustration of the use of family therapy research as a unique intervention technique for therapy is an important contribution to the practice literature. Equally important, however, is the isomorphic shift in focus of the family therapy researcher. Rather than focusing only on process or outcome research, family therapists should become more interested in their clients as research subjects. Though rarely discussed in the family therapy literature, the competencies of family therapists as researchers and the utility of research in a family therapy context is critical to being a well-rounded professional. Examples are provided of how this emphasis is being introduced in a PhD family therapy program.     

Experiential Activities in Family Therapy: Perceptions of Caregivers and Youth

Novel and creative therapeutic modalities have been developed in an effort to increase motivation in family therapy for adolescents and families. Many of these approaches incorporate experiential activities or “family play”, which provides a supplemental approach to traditional talk therapy. Incorporating experiential activities into family therapy sessions has been shown to increase engagement and enhance participation in therapy. Therefore, to understand how families view experiential activities within family therapy, we interviewed nineteen adolescents (age 12–17) and their parents/caregivers who were receiving family therapy augmented with experiential activities. We asked a series of open-ended questions to understand the families’ experiences concerning how they initially felt about participating in family therapy and their perceptions of the experiential activities. The activities involved experiential interactions and skill-building exercises that elicited active participation from all family members and encouraged further discussions. Topics of these activities focused on problem areas the family had identified, such as anger management, problem-solving, improving communication, substance use, expressing feelings, coping, etc. Results showed that most caregivers and youth found the experiential activities helpful in creating positive family interactions and developing communication skills. Caregivers and adolescents noted that the activities increased their desire to participate in family therapy sessions and they were more motivated to engage in the treatment process. Clinicians using the methods discussed in this intervention should be aware of the study’s limitations. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.     

Advanced Research and Training Seminars (ARTS) Report on ARTS 2002

This article reports on the Advanced Research and Training Seminars (ARTS) program that was held in Singapore during July, 2002. The seminars were sponsored jointly by the three international psychology associations—the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP), and the International Association for Cross‐Cultural Psychology (IACCP). ARTS is an educational program for psychologists from low‐income (developing and in‐transition) countries. The seminars are held in proximity of the international congresses each even‐numbered year to enable participants to attend one or more congresses in addition to receiving specialized instruction. Also, it is expected that the educational benefits to participants will extend to their students and colleagues with whom they interact on return to their home countries.     

An evaluation of a partial training program in psychiatric residency on the later practice of marital and family therapy

Abstract

This paper reports on the results of a survey of psychiatrists and residents who received marital and family therapy training during their second year of residency. The data indicate that such training has an immediate positive effect on practice and is carried forward into later practice. Practicing psychiatrists trained in marital and family therapy during residency report spending 25% of their caseloads in marital and family therapy which was seen as producing positive change in patients. In line with previous training, practicing psychiatrists define the unit of treatment as more than an identified patient and treat marital and family therapy cases themselves or refer to others for such therapy. Variations in practice and techniques raise questions regarding the structure and content of marital and family therapy training in psychiatry residency programs and point out the importance of such training in the later practice of psychiatry.     

Concomitant group therapy with anorectics and their parents as a supplement to family therapy

A study was made of family therapy with anorexia nervosa patients in a child psychiatric outpatient department. Eight families referred in 1984 were offered group therapy and family therapy simultaneously, one group for patients with anorexia nervosa and one group for their parents. The participants of both groups reported that they had learned a lot from the experience but stated that they felt group therapy could not replace family therapy.     

Do primary care psychological therapists ‘think family’? Challenges and opportunities for couple and family therapy in the context of ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ (IAPT) services

Very little couple or family work takes place in primary care despite the advantages offered by the context. This pilot study investigated the experiences of primary care adult therapists regarding the place of families in their clinical work. Semi‐structured interviews with seven therapists were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The findings tentatively suggest that primary care psychological therapists ‘think family’ primarily from the perspective of their main therapeutic model when offering individual therapy. Some study participants questioned the appropriateness of their family/context focus. Family members were extremely rarely seen together. Facilitating factors included supervision and training. Barriers to family work were both external (the work setting) and internal (beliefs about it). The impact of the current dominance of cognitive behavioural therapy in National Health Service adult psychological therapy services and the development of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services on the provision of couple and family therapy are discussed. Some challenges and opportunities presented by IAPT for couple and family therapy are explored.     

The integration of individual and family therapy

It is time to put an end to the separation in training programs between individual and family therapy. Competent therapists should be able to think at an intrapsychic and circular level concurrently. Training programs should maintain their current major focus and develop their minor area of expertise sufficiently so that their graduates can practice both individual and family therapy and choose whichever modality is more appropriate to the case at the time. Bridge concepts, essential differences, and some integrative approaches in individual and marriage and family therapy are discussed.     

The Results of Family Therapy: A Critical Review of the Literature

A search was conducted in the family therapy literature for studied which reported on the outcome of family therapy. It was difficult to find any consensus on a definition of family therapy. Therefore an arbitrary definition, involving the predominant use of joint and family interviews, was stipulated. A total of eighteen studies met minimal standards for inclusion and were summarized and discussed in this paper. Only two of these studies could be considered adequate in their research design; the remainder of the studies were (with one borderline exception) considered inadequate. The clinical evaluations of family therapy were summarized and possible methods and goals for future research into the outcome of family therapy are discussed.     

Thoughts on Psyche, Soul, and Spirit

There are differences in the meaning and use of the terms psyche, soul, and spirit, and these differences have large implications for mental-health professionals and their clients. For instance, problems of the soul cannot be reduced to symptoms of psychological ill health. Along with pursuing psychological health, one can use religious and spiritual resources in the writings of and about saints and heroes to do the work of spiritual growth.Psychotherapist in private practice in New York City, a poet, and conductor of seminars on the interior lifeWriter and editor in the field of education and also involved in interior-life seminars as a teacher     

Deterioration in Marital and Family Therapy: Empirical,Clinical, and Conceptual Issues

Recent empirical evidence of deterioration during both nonbehavioral and behavioral marital and family therapy is presented. While the frequency of patient worsening in marital-family therapy does not appear to exceed that previously found for individual psychotherapy, the acceptability of the evidence for negative effects in the treatment of systems may be greater than that which exists for individual treatment. After examining the empirical evidence of negative effects in family therapy and some of the factors that influence their occurrence, the authors discuss some conceptual issues relevant to a definition of worsening in marital and family therapy and present some methodological guidelines for the assessment of deterioration in therapy with family systems. It is concluded that the study of deterioration processes in family therapy may aid the understanding of family change processes more generally.