SUSTAINING ENGAGEMENT - A CHANGE EVENT IN FAMILY-THERAPY

In response to the call for researchers to identify components of fami ly treatment that are common across theoretical approaches (e.g., A. S . Gurman, 1988), a qualitative analysis was undertaken of an important change event in family treatment: sustaining engagement (SE). Using R . C. Bogdan and S. K. Biklen's (1992) modified analytic induction meth od, a sample was identified of successful SE events-that is, therapeut ic episodes in which family members move from disengagement with each other to sustained engagement on a problem-solving task. Videotapes of 33 sessions were scrutinized to develop and refine the operational de finitions of disengagement and sustained engagement. After two reviewe rs independently verified the selection of 8 SE events, a qualitative comparison was conducted of the interpersonal dynamics in the 4 succes sful versus the 4 unsuccessful events. The resulting conceptual model of the SE change process is described, followed by suggestions for con tinued research on this therapeutic event.