Brief Strategic Family Therapy

Learn about the use of brief strategic family therapy (BSFT)...

brief strategic family therapy

The last 30 years have brought psychological theories, frameworks, and approaches together to form several “hybrid” types of interventions for specific behavioral disorders, and brief strategic family therapy (BSFT) exemplifies one of those interventions.

During the 1970s, a surge of behavioral problems associated with Cuban urban youth challenged Florida’s Miami community. The Center for Family Studies, a division of the University of Miami Medical School's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, realized the need for culturally appropriate interventions, and conducted a study to develop effective treatment options.

The Center’s study pointed strongly to the family-oriented values of the Cuban community, and that possible solutions for solving problems affecting Cuban youth and teens must involve the family and the extended family.

Using this “family” emphasis, psychologists built BSFT on the family systems psychological framework. It then incorporated two innovative family-centered theories, strategic family therapy, and structural family therapy. Finally it added “brief” to the model to ensure that the therapy addressed problems in the here and now, and solved those problems within a reasonable time frame.

Who does brief strategic family therapy help?

From that first Miami study, and 30 years of continued research, application, and constant refinement and revision, the BSFT theory has developed into an effective treatment plan for children and teens between the ages of 8 and 17 with the following problems:

  • Displaying at-risk behaviors for developing behavior problems
  • Displaying at-risk behaviors for substance abuse
  • Adolescent drug abuse
  • Childhood and adolescent conduct disorders
  • School truancy and delinquency
  • Childhood and adolescent violent and aggressive behavior
  • Oppositional behavior

BSFT is now used by therapists in many areas of the country, and in many cities, however its original use with a minority population makes it an especially effective treatment for inner city minority families - particularly African American and Hispanic families. Specific training in assessing and facilitating healthy family interactions based on cultural norms is part of the educational preparation for using this type of therapy.

Grounded in Systems

The psychological groundwork for helping children and teens at the Center for Family Studies centered on the family systems psychological framework, a framework that views the family as an organic whole – or system – with interdependent and interrelated parts. Family systems therapy supports the idea that any interventions designed to address childhood and teen issues must target the entire family.

The systems approach understands the behavior of any individual – especially children - to be affected by numerous social influences, but the family to be the nucleus for childhood development. Family bonds, connections, and interpersonal relationships play a central role in how children learn to think, feel, learn, and behave, so when behavioral problems occur, targeting of the entire family is essential.

Grounded in Structure

BSFT integrates the structural approach, or structural family therapy, into its model. This therapy understands systems to be important in treating families, but also supports the case that the therapist must understand the structure of the system. In other words, how do the family members interact? Does the mother always take the side of a troubled teen? Are the spouses close and supportive? Or are they always arguing? What kind of communication takes place between a young son and his father? Does the father ridicule or express “put-downs” to a child struggling cognitively or emotionally?

Patterns of interactions become habit and routine – they compose the family’s “structure.” But these patterns, when dysfunctional, contribute to a youth’s problems.

In the first sessions with a family, a BSFT therapist will assess a family’s structure by “mapping” its interactions. By asking questions and replicating possible conflicts in the therapeutic setting, the family begins talking and behaving as if they normally would, and the therapist enters the conversation by pointing out conflicts, styles of interactions, and questions and comments that give shape to the family’s internal functioning. The therapist actually becomes another “part” of this family’s process, but a part that acts as the agent of change.

In this setting, the therapist helps the family understand how its ways of interacting and communicating are exacerbating problems rather than helping solve them.

Grounded in Strategy

Another critical therapeutic model integrated into BSFT is strategic family therapy. This therapy also is grounded in family systems, and has many of the same elements of structural family therapy. It adds to the mix, however, a belief in strategic approach to solving problems, meaning planning interventions specifically targeting the maladaptive interactions exhibited by the family, the types of interactions that directly contribute to the child or teen’s problems.

According to a Juvenile Justice Bulletin published by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, titled “Brief Strategic Family Therapy,” the strategic approach includes the following:

  • Practical interventions. These interventions target the unique qualities of each family, and are implemented to reach stated, attainable goals.
  • Problem-focused interventions. These interventions target patterns of interactions that most directly affect the youth’s psychosocial adjustment and antisocial behaviors. Interventions should focus on one target at a time.
  • Well-planned interventions. Interventions planned by the therapist must directly affect the dysfunctional interactions related to the youth’s behavioral issues. The therapist also helps the family re-formulate its interactions, or restructure its patterns of interacting to help the youth now, and prevent problems in the future.

Make it Brief

Family systems therapy and its many theoretical offshoots developed during the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s, as an alternative to psychoanalysis, a psychological framework that didn’t appear highly effective in solving problems and issues for certain segments of the population. One of the criticisms of psychoanalysis by family therapy psychologists was the length of treatment – lasting months and even years for many.

For that reason, many family focused therapies stress quick and effective treatment plans – such as Brief Strategic Family Therapy.

The average length for BSFT intervention is 12 to 15 sessions, but can go longer depending on the severity of the problems. It usually takes about three months to complete a course of the therapy.

How do you become a brief strategic family therapist?

If you have a passion for working with families, and are interested in using brief, problem-focused interventions, interventions designed specifically to help children and teens struggling with behavioral issues, consider becoming a brief strategic family therapist. A master’s degree or Ph.D. in either marriage and family therapy (MFT) or another counseling field is required. To practice as a therapist or counselor, states require licensing, and each state has specific requirements in meeting its licensing requirements.

Additional coursework, training, and certification in BSFT is required. Request information from schools offering degree programs in marriage and family therapy or related counseling degree programs.