Trials and Tribulations ‐ an RCT comparing manualized family therapy with Treatment as Usual and reflections on key issues that arose in the implementation
SHIFT has been one of the largest RCTs in the field of systemic family therapy in the UK. The study took place over five years, including three major centres with fifteen Trusts and twenty‐five family therapists who worked with a manualized treatment in CAMHS with adolescents who self‐harmed. While the results are not available at the time of this publication, this paper will briefly describe the pre‐ existing factors which were helpful in developing a successful bid, clinical and managerial elements of ‘real world research’ of complex psychological processes and the construction of the manualized systemic family...
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - January 31, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Paula Boston, David Cottrell Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Non‐violent resistance parent training for the parents of young adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder
A ‘dependence trap’ between parents and young adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HF‐ASD) develops when parents accommodate to the needs of their grown‐up child in ways that may hinder development and cause distress. Non‐Violent Resistance (NVR) parent training may help parents reduce their accommodation, manage arising conflicts through de‐escalation techniques, and amass external support for themselves and their child. Parents of four young adults with HF‐ASD received a ten‐week modified NVR parent training. Cases were evaluated through semi‐structured interviews and self‐report que...
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - January 22, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Ofer Golan, Hila Shilo, Haim Omer Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Relating therapeutically in family therapy: pragmatics and intangibles
This paper offers a set of theory reflections on the challenges of relating therapeutically and holding a therapeutic position in family therapy. The context is the relational space of family therapy, which shapes the possibilities and limits of therapeutic relating. Pragmatics unfold in the doing of therapy within this space, and processes of engagement, empathy and the therapist's capacities for resonance and reactivities are all considered as part of the pragmatics of therapeutic relating in family therapy. Yet these processes and the therapist's involvement of self are not simply pragmatic. The exploration turns to ide...
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - January 21, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Carmel Flaskas Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
A conversation analytic study of building and repairing the alliance in family therapy
In this paper, we draw from the methods of conversation analysis to illustrate how different alliances that form the ‘web of relationships’ of family therapy are ruptured and subsequently repaired. By focusing on the interactional practices of a master therapist, Dr Salvador Minuchin, we examine how he effectively manages a disaffiliative episode that occurred at the very beginning of a therapy session. In particular, we show how Minuchin's practices function to re‐establish consensus and a positive alliance and to endorse the mother's parental authority (in a context where she claims to be helpless and lack agency)....
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - January 21, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Peter Muntigl, Adam O. Horvath Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Guest editorial: the therapeutic alliance from a systemic perspective
(Source: Journal of Family Therapy)
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - January 21, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Valentín Escudero Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Non ‐violent resistance parent training for the parents of young adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder
A ‘dependence trap’ between parents and young adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HF‐ASD) develops when parents accommodate to the needs of their grown‐up child in ways that may hinder development and cause distress. Non‐Violent Resistance (NVR) parent training may help parents reduce their accommodation, manage arising conflicts through de‐escalation techniques, and amass external support for themselves and their child. Parents of four young adults with HF‐ASD received a ten‐week modified NVR parent training. Cases were evaluated through semi‐structured interviews and self‐report que...
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - January 20, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Ofer Golan, Hila Shilo, Haim Omer Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
A journal in time. Past, present and future themes
(Source: Journal of Family Therapy)
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - January 14, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Reenee Singh Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
From family to relational SCORE ‐15: an alternative adult version of a systemic self‐report measure for couples and LGB People
This article describes a pilot study designed to test the reliability and content validity of the original SCORE‐15 for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults in the UK. Quantitative data analyses conducted with an LGB sample (n = 59) and a non‐LGB sample (n = 57) found sufficient temporal and internal reliability in the SCORE‐15 but with some exceptions for the communication subscale. The content validity of SCORE‐15 was checked via group discussions with two clinical professionals groups (n = 7) and a gay/bisexual men group (n = 8). An alternative adult version of SCORE‐15 named the relational S...
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - November 25, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Yang Yang Teh, Judith Lask, Peter Stratton Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Thank you to reviewers
(Source: Journal of Family Therapy)
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - November 13, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: Thank you to reviewers Source Type: research
Cinema narrative therapy: utilizing family films to externalize children's ‘problems’
This article introduces a method for marriage and family therapists to integrate cinematherapy and narrative techniques. The method provided is to be utilized after a family has viewed a film chosen conjointly by the family and the therapist. This article includes suggestions as to how the family can externalize the movie character's problem, instances when the character defeats the problem and the qualities the character demonstrates while overcoming the problem. A case example has been included demonstrating the effectiveness of the method and clinical implications for future application.
Practitioner points
Watching mov...
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - November 13, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Brie Turns, Porter Macey Tags: Case Example Source Type: research
Bringing forth stories of blame and shame in dialogues with families affected by adolescent self‐harm
Feelings of blame and shame seemed to figure significantly in the interactional patterns of some families seen within the self‐harm intervention family therapy (SHIFT) trial. Taking the SHIFT manual as a starting point, we elaborate the links between blame, shame, emotional regulation and adolescent self‐harm, drawing on various theoretical models. We note the importance of attending to these emotional processes both in the family and the therapy team, arguing that these unhelpful patterns of interaction, emotion and meaning‐making may also signal a motivation for change. We offer some ideas about using blame and sha...
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - November 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Sarah Amoss, Monica Lynch, Mary Bratley Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Clinical implications from research exploring parent and family perspectives of the August 2011 London riots
This article presents findings from a PhD thesis about how London parents and families constructed the riots and relevant clinical implications. A separate paper focuses on the method and findings from the PhD thesis with an aim to include parent and family perspectives on the riots in the academic literature. A Foucauldian‐informed thematic analysis indicated that social exclusion, gentrification, criminality, parenting, morality and neighbourhood were relevant to the 2011 London riots from interviews with parents and families. This article aims to support clinical work with parents and families, especially as clinician...
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - November 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Yvanna Deeny Coopoosamy Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
From family to relational SCORE‐15: an alternative adult version of a systemic self‐report measure for couples and LGB People
This article describes a pilot study designed to test the reliability and content validity of the original SCORE‐15 for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults in the UK. Quantitative data analyses conducted with an LGB sample (n = 59) and a non‐LGB sample (n = 57) found sufficient temporal and internal reliability in the SCORE‐15 but with some exceptions for the communication subscale. The content validity of SCORE‐15 was checked via group discussions with two clinical professionals groups (n = 7) and a gay/bisexual men group (n = 8). An alternative adult version of SCORE‐15 named the relational S...
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - November 1, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Yang Yang Teh, Judith Lask, Peter Stratton Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
The role of relationships and families in healing from trauma
This article addresses this issue by summarizing the most salient individual and relational evidence‐based trauma protocols and by providing a description of the factors that are common to these approaches. This review also includes a clinical case that illustrates the global relevance and benefit of systemic trauma approaches.
Practitioner points
Trauma should be treated as an event that affects everyone in the family and is nested in societal and cultural contexts.
Close relationships can maintain or exacerbate problems but they can also be a powerful source of healing.
Systemic protocols that not only address intraper...
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - October 7, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Gabriela López‐Zerón, Adrian J. Blow Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Coparents and parenting programmes: do both parents need to attend?
In this study, both parents attributed changes to their parenting practices to programme participation. This was facilitated by mothers giving programme information to fathers and positive coparent relationships. Ideally, both parents would attend every session; however, it is posited that this may not always be necessary for promoting positive parenting. Implications to support families are discussed.
Practitioner points
Fathers can be included in parenting interventions through mothers, if the coparents’ relationship is positive.
If practitioners conducted relationship assessments with coparents, necessary delivery mod...
Source: Journal of Family Therapy - October 7, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Corinne Huntington, Arlene Vetere Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
