Strategic Therapy Flashcards
Strategic Therapy
Theory of Change
Change occurs through action-oriented directives and paradoxical interventions.
Strategic Therapy
Role of the Therapist
• Therapist delivers directives that facilitate
change, particularly around
patterns of communication.
• Focuses on solving problem/eliminating symptoms
• Designs a specific approach for each person’s presenting problem
Strategic Therapy
Treatment Goals
- Solve the presenting problems
* Change dysfunctional patterns of interaction
Strategic Therapy - Interventions
Paradoxical Directives:
Maneuvers that are in apparent contradiction to the
goals of therapy, yet are actually designed to achieve them; paradoxical interventions help avoid confrontation with therapist’s instructions; undermines resistance by keeping client in charge
Strategic Therapy - Interventions
Positioning:
Therapist takes a more exaggerated and extreme view of the problem and the family is obligated to rebel. That leads to them seeing the ways in which they have competency.
Strategic Therapy - Interventions
Homework
Assignments or directives that take place outside of therapy is essential to the therapy having a successful outcome. The underlying goal of the homework is to try to change the way the family dynamics function around
the presenting problem that was identified in session.
Strategic Therapy - Interventions
Prescribing the Symptom
A strategy in which the therapist encourages or
instructs the client to engage in or practice the symptom.
Strategic Therapy - Interventions
Restraining
The therapist will discourage change or changing too quickly in an effort to elicit the desire to change from the
client.
Strategic Therapy - Interventions
Ordeals
Particular type of symptom prescription in which clients are encouraged to carry out harmless but unpleasant tasks whenever symptoms occur; example: having to get up and clean the basement every time the client cannot sleep.
Strategic Therapy - Phases of Treatment
Beginning
Define the problem; determine how the client understands the problem; assess family’s destructive patterns of relating and communicating the continued problem; state goals –what behaviors need to change and what would
be the signs of change
Strategic Therapy
Middle
Review attempted solutions; assign ordeals; prescribe the problem; relabel behavior; instruct client to respond to
the problem in a new way
Strategic Therapy
End
Plan for maintenance of new behavior; plan for future challenges; emphasize positive changes made.
