Perceptions of primary family therapy supervisory techniques: A critical incident analysis

This study surveyed a randomly selected group of Approved Supervisors of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (n=275) and their supervisees (n=266) on their perceptions of the primary supervisory technique used in supervisory incidents that had a positive effect on supervisee development. Individual case consultation was the technique most often identified by both supervisors and supervisees.This study was funded in part by grants from the Research Committee of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; the Agricultural Experiment Station, Purdue University; and the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Purdue University Calumet.     

Supervisors' and Supervisees' perceptions of the effectiveness of family therapy supervisor interpersonal skills

Abstract

This study surveyed a randomly selected group of Approved Supervisors of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (n=318) and their supervisees (n=299) on their perceptions of the effectiveness of several supervisor interpersonal skills. Both supervisors and supervisees had high ratings for the majority of the interpersonal skills and rated “respects the supervisee” most effective. Trends in supervisors' and supervisees' responses were assessed for (a) theoretical orientation, (b) supervision setting, (c) gender, (d) number of years supervising family therapists (for supervisors), and (e) number of years practicing family therapy (for supervisees).     

Supervisory styles index: Examining supervisees' perceptions of Supervisory Style

The goal of this research was to develop an instrument, the Supervisory Styles Index (SSI), that would examine supervisory style. Style has been described as the way in which the personality and convictions of the supervisor are demonstrated in the supervisory relationship (Leighton, 1991). This study focuses on the interplay between supervisory style and the influence of sex and gender. The findings of this study reveal that female supervisees discern their supervisors to be more self-disclosing than do male supervisees. Implications of the findings and utilization of the index are discussed.Portions of this paper were presented at the 52nd annual conference of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Chicago, Illinois, November, 1994.     

Integrating Spirituality into Family Therapy Training: An Exploration of Faculty Members’ Beliefs

The purpose of this study was to explore the beliefs and attitudes of marriage and family therapy (MFT) faculty as they relate to the appropriateness of addressing spirituality in the context of therapy and training of future MFTs. Ninety-three MFT faculty members at masters and doctoral level programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education completed the electronic survey for this study. The results indicate that the majority of MFT faculty members believe that spirituality is important in their personal lives, in their clinical work, and in MFT training. The findings of the current study are similar to previous studies of clinical and student members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.     

A Study of Jewish Identity Development and Its Relationship to Self-Esteem

Jewish college age students and adults completed measures of Jewish identity as well as self-esteem to determine whether Jews adhere to Atkinson et al. (1979) minority identity model, particularly as regards self-esteem. Participants were found to have diminished rather than enhanced self-esteem in the Resistance-Immersion stage. Diplomate in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and an Approved Supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Clinical Psychology Program of the University of Connecticut.     

Career And Relationship Satisfaction Among Female Faculty in Marriage and Family Therapy Programs

This study explored career and relationship satisfaction of women faculty in accredited marital and family therapy (MFT) programs. Faculty were more satisfied with teaching duties than research or service duties and more satisfied with service than research duties. A backwards multiple regression procedure showed that the combined variables of psychosocial mentoring functions, expanded service duties, and having received an award for research or service were associated with greater levels of career satisfaction while career mentoring functions were associated with reduced levels of career satisfaction. Implications and suggestions for improving the academic climate are presented for institutions, MFT programs, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).     

Twelve-Year Review of Major Family Therapy Journals: Topic Areas,Authors' Characteristics and Publishing Institutions

Topics of interest, authors' characteristics, and institutions in three major MFT journals (American Journal of Family Therapy, Family Process, and Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy) from 1992 to 2004 were reviewed. The findings indicated that most authors had earned a Ph.D. and worked in a university setting as a faculty member. Publishing institutions were equally distributed throughout the United States. Six topics areas accounted for 42% of articles written including (1) Theory; (2) Techniques and Interventions; (3) Assessments and Instruments; (4) Ethnic, Minority, and Cross-cultural Issues; (5) Violence, Abuse, and Incest; and (6) Training and Supervision. As in the earlier reviews, faculty and/or students from Purdue University and Brigham Young University authored the highest percentage of papers.     

Fitting a square peg in a square hole: Using metaphor in narrative therapy

This paper examines the assumptions of the narrative mode of therapy and the assumptions of therapeutic metaphors. The premise is that the use of metaphor fits the assumptions of narrative therapy and can enhance and expand narrative therapy. This paper examines the structure and types of metaphor, explores their fit within the narrative model, and gives three case examples which illustrate the use of metaphor in narrative therapy.Kevin Lyness, MS, is a doctoral candidate, MFT Program, 1269 Fowler House, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1268, and a doctoral candidate in the MFT Program, Purdue University. Volker Thomas, PhD, is assistant professor, Marriage and Family Therapy Program, 1269 Fowler House, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1269. Reprint requests should be sent to the first author.     

On Becoming a Profession: The Growth of Marriage and Family Therapy in India*

The practice of couple and family therapy has a long history in India. This article tracks some of the people, places, and contexts associated with the growth of marriage and family therapy (MFT) as a profession in the Indian context. Two of the authors outline their own introduction to MFT and work within this field in different cities in India in the last two decades. Based on their professional experiences and a pilot study conducted in Chennai, the authors document the needs of providers in the areas of systems-based therapy training and the practice of MFT. The role of the Indian Association for Family Therapy (IAFT) and suggestions for the future growth of the field are also highlighted. Mudita Rastogi, PhD, Professor, Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University, 1000 Plaza Drive Schaumburg, IL 60173 (MuditaRastogi@hotmail.com). Rajeswari Natrajan, PhD, Assistant Professor, Alliant International University, 2500 Michelson Drive, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92612-1548. Volker Thomas, PhD, Associate Professor, Purdue University, 1200 West State Street, Fowler Memorial House, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1269. *Portions of this paper are based on Rajeswari Natrajan’s dissertation at Purdue University. **Rastogi and Natrajan share first authorship for this paper.     

The Field of Marital and Family Therapy

This article defines the emergence of marital and family therapy as a distinct clinical discipline and an area of clinical practice. Significant historical developments that shaped the field and the integrative aspects of family systems theory are described. The role of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy in professional credentialing and state and federal advocacy is reviewed, along with the contributions of the Commission on Accreditation for Marital and Family Therapy Education. These areas of development set the stage for recommendations for further interdisciplinary collaboration among the mental health disciplines.     

Perspectives on individual-family-social network interrelations

The author focuses on the trend in the family therapy field toward an expanded view of families in the context of their social environments. Within this broader eco-system perspective attention is given to individual-family-social network interrelations with implications for the family therapist.An earlier version of this paper was presented at the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Dallas, Texas, October 29, 1982. Appreciation is expressed to Alice Lynn for her comments and suggestions on an earlier draft of this paper. The author has also benefitted from discussions with Douglas Sprenkle on paradigms and contexts.     

Marriage and Family Therapists' Comfort Level Working With Gay and Lesbian Individuals,Couples, and Families

As professionals, therapists should be prepared to work with a diverse population. The purpose of this study was to explore predictors of American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Members' comfort level in working with gay and lesbian individuals, couples, and families. Results indicated that therapists' scores on the Support for Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Scale predicted their comfort level in working with gay and lesbian individuals, couples, and families. The challenge for training programs is to assist therapists-in-training and supervisors with self-exploration and to increase opportunities for interactions with gays and lesbians.     

Marriage and Family Therapists' Endorsement of Myths About Marriage

Marriage and family therapy training programs aim to provide students with research-based knowledge about marriage and divorce. A group of 223 California-based clinical members of the American Association for Marital and Family Therapy (AAMFT) was surveyed on their endorsement of 21 myths about marriage. Therapists provided correct responses to an average of 9.4 of these items. Endorsement of specific myths correlated with varying demographic, professional and family of origin variables. Implications for therapist training, practice, and future research are discussed.     

Alcoholism treatment and marriage and family therapists: An empirical study

This article reports on results of a mail questionnaire study conducted among 257 members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (132 respondents, response rate of 51%) on their attitudes toward alcoholism issues (acceptance of alcoholism as a disease, treatment philosophies used with clients and/or families, and acceptance and use of Alcoholics Anonymous as a resource). Results indicated that 69% of respondents (as compared with 42% formerly) considered alcoholism a disease after MFT education. A combination of individual, family therapy, and AA (81.1%); family therapy (66.7%); and AA only (60.6%) were most often used. Controlled use of alcohol by clients in treatment was believed to be unethical by 43.2%, legal by 39.4% and ineffective by 54.5%.     

Caring for Dying Children and Their Families: MFTs Working at the Gates of the Elysian Fields

The constant comparison method was used to analyze seven in-depth interviews with Marriage and Family Therapists and some of their colleagues working with dying children and their families. The findings of the study revealed that working in these settings can encourage shifts in priorities, relationships, and beliefs about life and death, and can elicit professional growth. Also, it can carry with it significant costs such as emotional exhaustion, and hypervigilance about death. Implications for practice and training are discussed. In the Greek mythology, the Elysian Fields is the place where the souls of the heroes and the virtuous dwell in the afterlife. It is the equivalent of the Christian Heaven. Portions of this paper were presented at the 65th Annual Conference of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Long Beach, CA, 2007.     

What aamft approved supervisors get paid

A national survey of American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Approved Supervisors found statistically significant bivariate relationships between their annual income in 1999 and their gender, professional identity, supervision setting, and geographic locale. Race, community size, and years of clinical experience were not significantly related to income statistically. Moreover, only gender was statistically significant upon a sequential logistic regression of these variables relative to an income of greater or less than $50,000 a year.     

Indian Women’s Experience of a Narrative Intervention Using Art And Writing*

International and minority populations tend to underutilize mental health services, including marriage and family therapy. Models of marriage and family therapy developed in the West may reflect Western values and norms inappropriate for diverse cultural contexts. This article presents an exploratory, qualitative study of a narrative therapy approach with Asian Indian women. This study adds to the small body of narrative-based empirical studies, and has a unique focus on intercultural applications and the experience of participants. Participant experience was examined along four phenomenological dimensions. Findings indicate the suitability of narrative interventions and nontraditional treatment delivery for this population.*This research was presented in 2004 at the annual conference of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.     

Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate Students’ Satisfaction with Training Regarding Religion and Spirituality

Marriage and family therapists are likely to encounter religious or spiritual clients in their career and thus are encouraged to be aware of their clients’ religious and spirituality. This awareness is often fostered within graduate training programs. This study aims to examine graduate students’ incorporation of religion and spirituality in therapy and their satisfaction with the quality and amount of training programs’ adherence to religion and spirituality. A sample of 135 graduate students from American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy accredited programs completed the survey. Findings showed that graduate students with greater levels of religiosity and spirituality were more likely to perceive it important to address religion/spirituality in therapy and to perceive there is a need for religious/spiritual education. When controlling for religious and spiritual orientations, overall regression results revealed that not having a course on religion and spirituality and perceiving a need for religious/spirituality in education predicted lower satisfaction with the amount and quality of current training surrounding these dimensions. Implications demonstrate the need to address religious/spiritual concepts in the curriculum, supervision, and in marriage and family therapy training.     

Why families are not like swamps,solar systems,or thermostats: Some limits of systems theory as applied to family therapy

Family systems theory presents an answer to the riddles of mental disorder and human functioning that stands in marked contrast to other prevailing views based on linearity and traditional science. At this stage of its development, the family systems view does not provide an internally coherent, predictive, or unifying theory about humans and their problems. Further, it tends to both undercontextualize and overcontextualize behavior, substitutes blaming the family for blaming the victim, reifies and anthropomorhizes the systems metaphor, dismisses such concepts as power and responsibility, and discourages research. As one theoretical and clinical perspective among many, however, it can be helpful and eye-opening.Based on a paper presented at the Forty-fifth Annual Conference of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Chicago, 1987.     

Selective mutism in children: A structural family therapy approach to treatment

When children refuse to speak in some social settings, but can understand and speak in other settings, the diagnosis of selective mutism must be considered. A review of the literature describes the disorder, the various types of mutism, and related family dynamics. A family systems approach to treatment using structural family therapy is suggested. The case history presented illustrates one type of mutism as well as the family rules and hierarchy which appeared to be maintaining it. Structural and strategic family systems theory techniques that were used to move the family toward resolution of this problem are discussed.Diane Wolf Tatem, MA, MS, completed graduate work in marriage and family therapy at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM. She is employed at Life Management Center of El Paso's Child Development Services and also has a private practice in marriage and family therapy in El Paso, Texas. Robert L. DelCampo, PhD is a professor of family science at New Mexico State University and maintains a private practice with Associates for Marriage and Family Therapy in Las Cruces, NM. Please address all correspondence to Dr. DelCampo at Box 3470, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88003-3470.Appreciation is expressed to Dr. Charles Huber, New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, for his insightful critique of the final draft of this paper. This paper was presented at the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Annual Conference, January 25–29, 1995 in Dallas, TX.