ANZJFT Volume 20 Number 2
June 1999Contents
Abstracts & Sample Articles
Editorial - Why are Scientists so Susceptible to Myth?
by Peter HuntView article. [PDF format - 70KB]
Conference Report: 1998 AAMFT Conference
by Richard WhitesideView article. [PDF format - 54KB]
Family Assessment and Intervention Using an Interactive Art Exercise
by Kasia Kozlowska and Lesley HanneyView article. [PDF format - 238KB]
The authors have developed a family-centered interactive art exercise from a synthesis of clinical tools used by attachment theory and family art therapists. The exercise aims to facilitate assessment and treatment of families with younger children (two to eight years) at a tertiary referral child and family psychiatric facility, by observing how a family collectively as well as individually sets about planning and completing an art task. Art exercises allow for both verbal and non-verbal communication. The exercises are deliberately kept simple in order to span a range of developmental abilities, and allow the therapist/s to observe from behind a one-way screen, so as to be less intrusive in the family dynamics. Although developed for assessment with a specific population, the exercise is likely to be useful in other clinical situations and has been used as a treatment tool by the authors.
Unravelling the Web of Deceit: Enduring Perpetrator Dynamics and Recovery from Child Sexual Assault
by Wendy FooteView article. [PDF format - 178KB]
This is a description of therapeutic work with children who have been sexually abused, and their non-offending parents. Such children need a therapeutic intervention which promotes their individual recovery, and positions them within a protective family network. The therapist works to make the perpetrator's agency visible by mapping his/her 'targeting', 'grooming' and 'maintenance' behaviour as experienced by the family members, and thus deconstructs the perpetrator's abuse of influence and power in the family. The management of the therapy process includes moving from individual to family work and identifying child protection issues. The experience of guilt and responsibility can be translated into anger and determination to rid the family of the remaining perpetrator-driven dynamics and repair the affected relationships.
A Solution Focused Approach to Adolescent Groupwork
by Virginia BanksView article. [PDF format - 129KB]
The use of Solution Focused Therapy in a group setting with adolescents requires the therapist to encourage the young persons to recognise when they are not bullying, what prosocial behaviours they use and how others respond to them. Furthermore it gets bullies to work together in a cooperative and purposeful direction, approaches negative behaviours positively, and allows desired outcomes to be supported. The group setting enables the adolescent to gain support from peers as well as provide support to others. The therapist must be flexible, remain focused on the solution and allow the group to determine the course to a certain extent.
Child-Focused Family Therapy: Behavioural Family Therapy Versus Brief Family Therapy
by William J. Smith, Thomas V. Sayger and Steven A. SzykulaView article. [PDF format - 133KB]
We examined the effectiveness of behavioural family therapy (following the treatment agenda outlined in Fleischman, Horne and Arthur, 1983) and brief family therapy (following the procedures outlined in Fisch, Weakland and Segal, 1985), in the treatment of child psychological disorders. The parents of the 49 children referred to the outpatient unit of a children's hospital completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) (Achenbach and Edelbrock, 1983). Three scales of the CBCL were examined to assess the effectiveness of the two therapeutic approaches pre- to post-treatment. Significant pre- and post-treatment differences were found for behavioural family therapy on the Internalizing, Externalizing, and Sum T scales and for brief family therapy on the Internalizing and Sum T scales. Sum T scales represent the sum of scores across all sub-scales of the CBCL. Neither treatment was found to be more effective than the other.
Are the Children Playing Quietly? Integrating Child Psychotherapy and Family Therapy
by Elisabeth ScottView article. [PDF format - 152KB]
Over many years, family therapy training programs have not included the engagement of children under seven. John Byng-Hall wrote in 1986 that family therapists could learn about understanding young children from child psychotherapists. It has long been my practice to include young children when working with families. This article describe ways of working that include young children's play as relevant information. I hope to encourage other child psychotherapists and family therapists to find better ways of integrating skills.
Bowedn Family Systems Theory and Practice: Illustration and Critique
by Jenny BrownView article. [PDF format - 212KB]
This paper will give an overview of Murray Bowen's theory of family systems. It will describe the model's development and outline its core clinical components. The practice of therapy will be described as well as recent developments within the model. Some key criticisms will be raised, followed by a case example which highlights the therapeutic focus of Bowen's approach.
Practice and Research: Odd Bedfellows or Symbiotic Necessity?
by Ruth PerkinsView article. [PDF format - 54KB]
PACFA Update
by Jim CrawleyView article. [PDF format - 46KB]
Network News: Commentary, News and Reports from Regional and International Correspondents
View article. [PDF format - 154KB]Reviews: Independant comment on audio-visual and print materials
View article. [PDF format - 141KB]