| MODEL | THEORIST(S) | STANCE | ASSESSMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRI | Jackson Weakland Watzlawick |
Therapist is expert | View complaint as symptom; Explores “stuck solution” behavior; “Stop doing what is NOT working;” Look for concrete, behavioral, and specific definition of problem. |
| STRATEGIC | Haley Madanes |
Therapist is expert | Look for concrete and behavioral problem in interaction of family members; Explore parental hierarchy and family structure. |
| MILAN | Palazzoli Prata Cecchin Boscolo |
Therapist is neutral | Identify interactional issues; Hypothesize; Identify power struggles and “dirty games.” |
| MODEL | TREATMENT PROCESS |
TECHNIQUES | INTERVENTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRI | Therapy terminates after 10 sessions or when symptom is resolved, whichever comes first); Six-step process of treatment: Set-up; Problem identification; Exploration of attempted solutions; Goal setting; Intervention; Termination. |
Focus on most motivated person in system; Paradox; Restraining (“go slow”); Prescribe symptom; Interrupt pattern; Stop doing what’s not working. |
Set small goals and do something different (180 degree change). |
| STRATEGIC | Therapy is brief (but not limited to 10 sessions); Four stages of initial (critical) session: Social stage; Problem stage; Interactional stage; Goal-setting stage. |
Emphasize significance of family hierarchy (from Minuchin); Utilized paradox (from Erickson); Directives; Rituals; Ordeals; Prescribe symptom. |
Prescribe directives (direct and paradoxical) and ordeals that make the cost of keeping the symptom greater than its benefit. |
| MILAN | Therapy is one session per month (up to 10 sessions); Five stages of each session: Pre-session; Session; Intersession; Intervention; Post-session discussion. |
Hypothesize; Circularity; Neutrality; Positive connotation; Male/female co-therapists; Invariant Prescription and Power games (Palazzoli and Prata). |
Attempt to disrupt “dirty games” and change how clients view the problem. |