FAMILY THEMES - TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFORMATION

This article describes a method for doing therapy that uses multisyste mic themes that combine meaning and action to facilitate therapeutic c hange. By identifying central themes that operate at the individual, d yadic, 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 are framed as a current manifestation of an overarching theme. This orien tation enables family and therapist to depathologize symptoms and work collaboratively toward change. Case examples from a wide variety of f amilies with differing presenting problems, interactional patterns, th ree-generational histories, and cultural backgrounds, illustrate the e fficacy of the method.