Surveyed members of the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (N=426) regarding the utilization of marital and family therapy models in clinical work. The number and percentage of respondents using each model specified were assessed. Rankings denoting prevalence of the eight models were derived from first-choice responses. (JAC)

Used a multidimensional content analysis to compare four expert counselors' approaches to family treatment. Two common change factors in family counseling were proposed: disruption of the existing balance of power among family members and education in the nature and strength of family systems. (JAC)

Family therapy educators listed most critical/basic skills/competencies of beginning family therapists with transgenerational orientation. Self-selected respondents then rated items according to importance for beginning therapists. Found transgenerational family therapy skills founded in theory and identifiable behaviorally. Most important skills…

Discusses a method of counseling supervision similar to the wu-wei practice in Zen and Taoism. Suggests that this strength-based method and an understanding of isomorphy in supervisory relationships are the preferred practice for the supervision of family counselors. States that this model of supervision potentiates the person-of-the-counselor.…

Presents an integrative definition of the therapeutic alliance that conceptualizes individual, couple and family therapy as occurring within the same systemic framework. The implications of this concept for therapy reserach are examined. Three new systematically oriented scales to measure the alliance are presented along with some preliminary data…

Q-sorts by experts were used to compare four structural/strategic/systemic therapy models. Results suggest that the models share a practical, strategic orientation to change, emphasizing reframing, but attach different importance to history, inference, abstraction, and contextual breadth. (Author)

Investigates what kind of participant status young children (4-7 years old) acquire in family therapy talk so as to illustrate how social intercourse generates patterns of participant status. Findings based on 20 families and 19 different therapists raise questions about the interpretation of family therapy, especially in therapies where young…

Examines the development and implementation of a specific model for providing family counseling to immigrant and refugee families. Discusses the influence of narrative theory in its ability to address the challenges of ethno-cultural diversity and the imbalances of power inherent in cross-cultural counseling. Highlights the dynamics of a…

Examined the similarities and differences in the theory and practice of structural and strategic family therapy. A national panel of structural and strategic therapists identified items they thought important to a profile of either structural or strategic family therapy. Mental Research Institute, Haley/Madanes, and Milan/Ackerman approaches to…

Tested a path model so as to examine how a modified version of the coercion theory of delinquent behavior fits the data. Focused on family functioning rather than parental behavior. Results suggest that family cohesion is a salient issue in adolescent delinquent behavior, particularly as mediated by involvement with deviant peers. (RJM)

Assesses the theoretical perspectives of marriage and family counselors (N=204). Results show that 43.6% of participants primarily adhere to the systems paradigm; 42.2% practice from a combination of paradigms; while the social constructionism is used by 13.7%. Predictor variables included the current of most recent supervisor's preferred…

The Delphi technique of refining group opinion was used to develop a graduate-level marriage and family therapy curriculum. Questionnaires were employed and 101 content areas met the criteria for inclusion into the final curriculum. Discussed are the similarities and differences of this curriculum and the current "model" AAMFT…

Examined the extent and dimensions of the process of segmentation within the family therapy movement by comparing the belief and action systems of 1000 family therapists oriented to one of three major models of family therapy. Findings depicted a unique patterning of similarities and differences among the three models. (Author)

Research and clinical practice at the Spanish Family Guidance Clinic (Miami, Florida) has suggested that ecological structural family therapy might be a treatment of choice for Cuban immigrants. Such a treatment approach was found to be consistent with the values of this population and was particularly helpful in addressing special problems…

Attempts to integrate career, family, and developmental theories using a family developmental psychology perspective. Looks at the synthesis of individual, interactional, and intergenerational forces that influence the career development of women, and discusses potentially inhibitory or facilitative conditions for the career growth of women. Case…