MRI

Question 1

How do Symptoms Develop?

Answer 1

Symptoms develop to alleviate problems. Therefore it contributes to the maintenance of the problem and often exacerbates it.

• Family get stuck in positive feedback loop.
• Problem arises out of ordinary life.

Question 2

Goals of Therapy

Answer 2

-To break repetitive, negatively self perpetuating cycle.
-Change system’s structure or function, creating 2nd order change.
-1st order change is only a cosmetic fix and unlikely to last.
Identify and change the rules that maintain the problem.
More: In Practice-
1) Identify more of the same, positive feedback loops that maintain the problem.
2) identify the rules that support these interactions
3) Find a way to change the rules

Question 3

Interventions

Answer 3

Degree of “stuckness” dictates type of intervention.

• Prescribing the symptom (encourage the increase of the amount of the symptom)
• Relabeling (Reframing the problem as not a problem, describe the protective function).
• Out posting (exaggerate a worse thing that could happen).
• Restraining (Discourage them from changing to quickly to encourage quick change. Make them think they can’t do it so they will be motivated to prove you wrong).

Question 4

Brief Therapy- Symptom Development

Answer 4

Symptoms Develop by:

1) Family denies that problem exists. Action is necessary, but not taken.
2) Family solution is an effort to solve something that isn’t really a problem.
3) Action is taken on wrong level.

Question 5

Brief Therapy-Goals and therapist role.

Answer 5

Resolve the presenting problem. Therapist is responsible for change in the system

Question 6

Brief Therapy- In practice

Answer 6

No insistence on who must attend, all those who are motivated to change should attend.

• Expectancy for change in a short amount of time ex: 10 sessions.
• Satisfied with minor changes that establish a trend in the right direction.