Adolescent-Focused Family Counseling

Abstract

There is a need for and appreciation of clear descriptions of psychotherapy processes (Morrow-Bradley & Elliott, 1986). Furthermore, it is relatively rare to find descriptions of therapeutic approaches being applied to identical clinical problems. This article presents typical in-session descriptions of Child-Focused Behavioral and Strategic Family Therapy models using identical hypothetical case study comparisons for each model. The authors provide a brief summary of each therapy approach, the hypothetical case which illustrates and conceptualizes both approaches consistent with their respective theories, a discussion of the similarities and differences between each therapy model, and a commentary about the utility of presenting these comparative hypothetical cases. The authors do not attempt to determine the efficacy of one treatment approach as opposed to the other, but do offer a comparative examination of each model as it is effectively utilized with a teenage referral and her mother.