Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Family Therapy Techniques in Residential Settings: Family Sculptures and Reflecting Teams

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Contemporary Family Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Outcome data has shown that family therapy is highly effective in the treatment of many disorders including addiction, mood, and other issues. In working to make treatment as effective as possible, many residential treatment and outdoor behavioral healthcare (OBH) programs have adopted family therapy techniques for use in individual and peer group therapy settings. Some have also incorporated family members by inviting them to visit the residential setting and participate in treatment exercises. An article by Faddis and Bettmann (J Ther Sch Program 1(1): 57–69, 2006) outlines an example of this integrated approach to family sculptures and reflecting teams in a wilderness therapy setting for adolescents. This integrated technique has since come to be known as the four phase Familial Sculpting and Reflecting intervention. Most recently these methods have been expanded for use with young men ages 18–30 in an adventure wilderness therapy program. This article will examine the theoretical basis for both of these approaches, discuss the application of these techniques to residential OBH programs and review how these methods have been most recently adapted for use in another program.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, T. (1987). The reflecting team: Dialogue and meta-dialogue in clinical work. Family Process, 26, 415–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, T. (Ed.). (1991). The reflecting team: Dialogues and dialogues about the dialogues. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bateson, G. (1972). Steps to an ecology of mind: Collected essays in anthropology, psychiatry, evolution and epistemology. London: Jason Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, S. P. (2009). Wilderness therapy: Ethical considerations for mental health processionals. Child & Youth Care Forum, 39, 47–61. doi:10.1007/s10566-009-9085-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becvar, D. S., & Becvar, R. J. (2006). Family therapy: A systemic integration (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bitter, J. R., Robertson, P. E., Roig, G., & Disqueact, J. G. (2004). Definitional ceremonies: Integrating community into multicultural counseling sessions. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 32, 272–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloete, M. (2001). Special tutorial letter: Epistemology and the postmodern challenge. Pretoria, Gauteng: University of South Africa (UNISA), Department of Philosophy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Combs, G., & Freedman, J. (1998). Tellings and retellings. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 24, 405–408.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Combs, G., & Freedman, J. (2012). Narrative, poststructuralism, and social justice: Current practices in narrative therapy. The Counseling Psychologist, 40(7), 1033–1060. doi:10.1177/0011000012460662.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Constantine, L. L. (1978). Family sculpture and relationship mapping techniques. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 4(2), 13–23. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.1978.tb00508.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doherty, W. (1999). The intentional family: Simple rituals to strengthen family ties. New York: Avon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epston, D. (1998). Catching up with David Epston: A collection of narrative practice-based paper. Adelaide: Dulwich Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epston, D. (2008). Down under and up and over: Travels with narrative therapy. London: UKL Karnac Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faddis, T. J., & Bettmann, J. E. (2006). Reflecting teams and other innovative family therapy techniques adapted for outdoor behavioral healthcare. Journal of Therapeutic School Programmes, 1(1), 57–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald, M. D. (1994). Resistant attitudes and behaviors of adolescents in residential care: Considerations and strategies. Child & Youth Care Forum, 23(6), 365–375. doi:10.1007/BF02128520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gass, M. A., Gillis, L., & Russell, K. C. (2012). Adventure therapy: Theory, research, and practice. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gehart, D. (2013). Mastering competencies in family therapy: A practical approach to theory and clinical case documentation. Belmont: Cengage Learning.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillis, H. L., Gass, M. A., & Russell, K. C. (2008). The effectiveness of project adventure’s behavior management programs for male offenders in residential treatment. Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, 25(3), 227–247. doi:10.1080/08865710802429689.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harper, N. J., & Russell, K. C. (2008). Family involvement and outcome in adolescent wilderness treatment: A mixed-methods evaluation. International Journal of Child & Family Welfare, 1, 19–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, L. (1985). Beyond power and control: Toward a “second order” family systems therapy. Family Systems Medicine, 3(4), 381. doi:10.1037/h0089674.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, L. (1988). A constructivist position for family therapy. The Irish Journal of Psychology, 9(1), 110–129. doi:10.1080/03033910.1988.10557709.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoyer, S. (2004). Effective wilderness therapy: Theory-informed practice. In S. Banderoff & S. Newes (Eds.), Coming of age: The evolving field of adventure therapy (pp. 56–72). Boulder: Association for Experiential Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, D. D. (1965). The study of the family. Family Process, 26, 331–340. doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.1965.00001.x.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karam, E. A., Blow, A. J., Sprenkle, D. H., & Davis, S. D. (2015). Strengthening the systemic ties that bind: Integrating common factors into marriage and family therapy curricula. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 41(2), 136–149. doi:10.1111/jmft.12096.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keeney, B. P. (1983). Aesthetics of change. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Landsman, M.J., Groza, V., Tyler, M., & Malone, K. (2001). Outcomes of family-centered residential treatment. Child Welfare, 80(3), 351–379.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leahy, M. M., O’Dwyer, M., & Ryan, F. (2012). Witnessing stories: Definitional ceremonies in narrative therapy with adults who stutter. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 37, 234–241. doi:10.1016/j.jfludis.2012.03.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leichtman, M., & Leichtman, M. L. (2001). Facilitating the transition from residential treatment into the community: I. The problem. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth, 19, 21–27. doi:10.1037/0002-9432.71.2.227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyerhoff, B. (1986). Life not death in Venice: Its second life. In V. W. Turner & E. M. Bruner (Eds.), The anthropology of experience (pp. 261–286). Chicago: University of Illinois Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, M., & Schwartz, R. (1998). Family therapy: Concepts and methods. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nickerson, A. B., Brooks, J. L., Colby, S. A., Rickert, J. M., & Salamone, F. J. (2006). Family involvement in residential treatment: Staff, parent, and adolescent perspectives. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 15, 681–694. doi:10.1007/s10826-006-9041-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papp, P., Scheinkman, M., & Malpas, J. (2013). Breaking the mold: Sculpting impasses in couples’ therapy. Family Process, 52, 33–45. doi:10.1111/famp.12022.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phipps, W. D., & Vorster, C. (2011). Narrative therapy: A return to the intrapsychic perspective? Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 22(2), 128–147. doi:10.1080/08975353.2011.578036.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, K. (2003). Definitions, models, and assessing outcomes in outdoor behavioral healthcare. Paper presented at the Naropa University Wilderness Therapy Symposium, Boulder, CO.

  • Saltzburg, S. (2007). Narrative therapy pathways for re-authoring with parents of adolescents coming-out as lesbian, gay and bisexual. Contemporary Family Therapy, 29, 57–69. doi:10.1007/s10591-007-9035-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sunseri, P. A. (2004). Family functioning and residential treatment outcomes. Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, 22, 33–53. doi:10.1300/J007v22n01_03.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Bertalanffy, L. (1968). General system theory: Foundations, development, applications (Rev ed.). New York: George Braziller.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells, M. S., Widmer, M. A., & McCoy, J. K. (2004). Grubs and grasshoppers: Challenge-based recreation and the collective efficacy of families with at-risk youth. Family Relations, 53, 326–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, M. (1999). Reflecting-team work as definitional ceremony revisited. Gecko: A Journal of Deconstruction and Narrative Ideas in Therapeutic Practice, 2, 55–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, M. (2000). Reflecting teamwork as definitional ceremony revisited. Adelaide: Dulwich Centre Publication. Retrieved November 10, 2003 from http://www.dulwichcentre.com.au/reflectingarticle2.html

  • White, M. (2007). Maps of narrative practice. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, M. (2009). Narrative practice and conflict dissolution in couples therapy. Clinical Social Work Journal, 37, 200–213. doi:10.1007/s10615-009-0192-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative means to therapeutic ends. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Troy J. Faddis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Faddis, T.J., Cobb, K.F. Family Therapy Techniques in Residential Settings: Family Sculptures and Reflecting Teams. Contemp Fam Ther 38, 43–51 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-015-9373-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-015-9373-3

Keywords

Navigation