FAMILY THEMES - TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFOR MATION

This article describes a method for doing therapy that uses multi-syst emic themes that combine meaning and action to facilitate therapeutic change. By identifying central themes that operate at the individual, dyadic, triadic, whole-family inter-generational, and sociocultural le vels, the therapist is able to develop effective interview questions a nd design useful interventions. In this method, behavioral symptoms ar e framed as a current manifestation of an overarching theme. This orie ntation enables family and therapist to de-pathologize symptoms and wo rk collaboratively towards change. Case examples from a wide variety o f families with differing presenting problems, interactional patterns, three-generational histories, and cultural backgrounds illustrate the efficacy of the method.