EP09 Invited Address 13 – My Favorite Stories of Therapy – Cloe Madanes, Dipl. Psych., HDL

Description:

Cloé Madanes will present her view of what therapy should be by telling her favorite stories of people overcoming very serious challenges.

Educational Objectives:

1. To list five strategic approaches with couples.
2. To describe how to understand a spouse’s needs.

*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*

Outline:

Introduction and Housekeeping

• Cloe jokes about being “hypnotized” to present at 8 AM and requests more child/adolescent sessions at future conferences.

The Incredible Hug: Case Study

• A 5-year-old boy hospitalized for tantrums; Cloe removes him immediately.

• Boy identifies with the Hulk—Cloe uses this in role-play therapy.

• Mother participates in “pretend tantrums” and hugs the child.

• Technique eliminates real tantrums through play and empathy.

The Steel Mill Case: Domestic Violence

• Father, laid off from a steel mill, becomes violent; one son attempts suicide.

• Therapist teaches parents difference between normal and abnormal behavior.

• Father resists therapy due to cost; therapist offers free sessions for "abnormal" behavior.

• Family re-engages in therapy, improving dynamics.

Reversing Hierarchy in Family Therapy

• Therapist asks children to advise parents on how to be happy.

• Kids suggest family dinners and outings.

• Reversal of hierarchy helps parents reconnect; father overcomes addiction.

Anorexia and Family Dynamics

• Severely anorexic girl with divorced, emotionally distant parents.

• Cloe advises father to treat mother with kindness in front of daughter.

• This shift in behavior helps daughter recover.

• Highlights need to address parental hostility and foster honesty.

Meditation on the Mother: A Turning Point

• Violent young man with no direction is guided to remember a nurturing maternal figure.

• He reconnects with his grandmother, who helps him find work and stability.

• Meditation helps him find hope and change his life trajectory.

Adolescent Suicide and Family Secrets

• 15-year-old boy attempts suicide after a breakup.

• Reveals past abuse: beaten by father, brother molested sister.

• Parents express sorrow and take responsibility for their actions.

• Family honesty brings healing and improved relationships.

The Power of Honesty in Therapy

• Cloe emphasizes honesty as essential in therapy and professional ethics.

• Transparency helps patients heal and fosters integrity in families.

• A social worker father’s confession improves trust and recovery for his son.

• Cloe urges therapists to commit to truth and doing what’s right.