Conclusions
Homework tasks are an essential com ponent of BSFT. Therapists strategically implement tasks to achieve improvements in family interactions that are directly related to the prevention or reduction of adolescent behavior problems. The use of tasks in BSFT is consistent with the model’s emphasis on having family members “do” rather than simply “talk about.” Tasks are assigned based on the therapist’s assessment of family functioning. Early in treatment relatively easier tasks are assigned to foster a sense of success and competence in family members. Later in treatment, tasks tend to be more difficult and complex. In all instances, however, the therapist creates opportunities for family members to practice and demonstrate competence in the task, prior to assigning homework.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an experimental ecology of human development. American Psychologist, 32, 513–531.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). Contexts of child rearing: Problems and prospects. American Psychologist, 34, 844–850.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1986). Ecology of the family as a context for human development: Research perspectives. Developmental Psychology, 22, 723–742.
Coatsworth, J. D., Santisteban, D. A., McBride, C. K., & Szapocznik, J. (2001). Brief strategic family therapy versus community control: Engagement, retention, and an exploration of the moderating role of adolescent symptom severity. Family Process, 40, 313–332.
Haley, J. (1976). Problem solving therapy. San Francisco CA: Jossey-Bass, Publishers.
Madanes, C. (1981). Strategic family therapy. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Minuchin, S., & Fishman, H.C. (1981). Familytherapytechniques. Cambridge: HarvardUniversity Press.
Minuchin, S., Rosman, B.L., & Baker, L. (1978). Psychosomatic families: Anorexia nervosa in context. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Robbins, M. S., Mitrani, V. B., Zarate, M., Perez, G. A., Coatsworth, J. D., & Szapocznik, J. (2002). Change processes in family therapy with Hispanic adolescents. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 24, 505–519.
Santisteban, D. A., Coatsworth, D., Perez-Vidal, A., Kurtines, W. M., Schwartz, S. J., & Szapocznik, J. (2003). The efficacy of brief strategic family therapy in modifying adolescent behavior problems and substance use, Journal of Family Psychology, 17, 121–133.
Santisteban, D. A., Coatsworth, J. D., Perez-Vidal, A., Mitrani, V., Jean-Gilles, M., & Szapocznik, J. (1997). Brief structural strategic family therapy with African American and Hispanic high risk youth: A report of outcome. Journal of Community Psychology, 25, 453–471.
Santisteban, D. A., Szapocznik, J., Perez-Vidal, A., Kurtines, W. M., Murray, E. J., & LaPerriere, A. (1996). Efficacy of intervention for engaging youth and families into treatment and some variables that may contribute to differential effectiveness. Journal of Family Psychology, 10, 35–44.
Szapocznik, J., & Coatsworth, J. D. (1999). An ecodevelopmental framework for organizing the influences on drug abuse: A developmental model of risk and protection. In M. D. Glantz & C. R. Hartel (Eds.), Drug abuse: Origins and interventions (pp. 331–366). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Szapocznik, J., Hervis, O. E., & Schwartz, S. (2003). Brief strategic family therapy for adolescent drug abuse. Rockford, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Szapocznik, J., & Kurtines, W. M. (1989). Breakthroughs in family therapy with drug abusing and problem youth. New York: Springer Publishing Co.
Szapocznik, J., Kurtines, W. M., Foote, F., Perez-Vidal, A., & Hervis, O. (1986). Conjoint versus one person family therapy: Further evidence for the effectiveness of conducting family therapy through one person. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 395–397.
Szapocznik, J., Perez-Vidal, A., Hervis, O., Brickman, A. L., & Kurtines, W. (1990). Innovations in Family therapy: Overcoming resistance to treatment. In R. A. Wells, & V. A. Gianetti (Eds.), Handbook of Brief Psychotherapy (pp. 93–114). New York: Plenum.
Szapocznik, J., Perez-Vidal, A., Brickman, A., Foote, F. H., Santisteban, D. A., Hervis, O. E., & Kurtines, W. M. (1988). Engaging adolescent drug abusers and their families in treatment: A strategic structural systems approach. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 552–557.
Szapocznik, J., Rio, A. T., Murray, E., Cohen, R., Scopetta, M. A., Rivas-Vasquez, A. et al. (1989). Structural family versus psychodynamic child therapy for problematic Hispanic boys. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57, 571–578.
Szapocznik, J., Scopetta, M.A., & King, O. (now Hervis). (1978). Theory and practicein matching treatment to the special characteristics and problems of Cuban immigrants. Journal of Community Psychology, 6, 112–122.
Szapocznik, J., & Williams, R. A. (2000). Brief strategic family therapy: Twenty five years of interplay among theory, research and practice in adolescent behavior problems and drug abuse. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 3, 117–135.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Robbins, M.S., Szapocznik, J., Pe’rez, G.A. (2007). Brief Strategic Family Therapy. In: Kazantzis, N., LĽAbate, L. (eds) Handbook of Homework Assignments in Psychotherapy. Springer, Boston, MA . https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-29681-4_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-29681-4_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-29680-7
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-29681-4
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)