Edited video of thirty-five hours of family therapy conducted along with co-therapist, David Keith. Psychotic episode occurred in the father and three sibs but not in the mother.
The unique assessment methods involving Modality Profiles, Structural Profiles, Tracking, and Second-Order Basic I.D. Charts will be addressed. The rationale for technique selection will be underscored. When and when not to use family therapy will be discussed.
New developments will be presented in the theory and technique of strategic therapy with individuals, families, and couples, including prescribing the metaphor and the use of confusional techniques with families. Concepts will be illustrated with videotaped examples.
Like lock and key, illness and treatment are matching, symmetrical terms. Because the term "mental illness" is misleading, I prefer to avoid the term "psychotherapy," which refers (or ought to refer) to a particular kind(s) of dialogue, discourse, or situation of personal influence.
An information processing model designed to clarify the biased and constricted thinking in depression will be described. The practical applications of the model use principles of guided discovery and collaborative empiricism. There will be a demonstration of specific strategies applied to dysfunctional cognitions and beliefs. A blending of cognitive and behavioral techniques are used for in vivo exercises.
The distinguishing elements of a psychotherapy conducted from an existential orientation and holding humanistic values. Topics briefly dealt with include centering on process rather than content; authenticity of encounter; commitment; presence; concern; the subjective; intentionality vs. causality; and developing depth of inquiry. Didactic presentations, questions and discussion, and demonstrations.
The Cognitive Model of anxiety as applied to acute and chronic anxiety, post-traumatic disorders, agoraphobias, panic disorders and simple phobias will be presented.
Cognitive-behavioral strategies include identification and evaulation of dysfunctional cognition, induced imagery, induced panic attacks, and cognitive monitoring of exposure treatment. A videotaped demonstration of the treatment of panic disorders will be shown.
A brief discussion of my experience with demonstration interviews. A "client" will be selected from among those who volunteer. A thirty-minute demonstration interview will be held, followed by interaction between the group, the client and me.