Family Therapy With Adolescents

Abstract

This article presents a research study undertaken in the context of a consultation to provide family-therapy supervision. Families with adolescents were randomly assigned to four therapists, two who used verbal methods and two who used action methods in conducting therapy. The families were given pre- and posttests using the Family Relationship Inventory. Family goals were established by the end of the second session, and families were assigned to one of four levels of dysfunction. The methods of the study are described, and the outcomes discussed. Although not generalizable, the results indicated that with certain levels of family
typology, action methods produce higher family agreement regarding goal attainment and therapy satisfaction.