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Intervening in Family Systems with Observer Messages *
Author(s) -
Breunlin Douglas C.,
Cade Brian
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-0606.1981.tb01399.x
Subject(s) - observer (physics) , family systems , family therapy , psychology , function (biology) , psychotherapist , social psychology , computer science , developmental psychology , physics , quantum mechanics , evolutionary biology , biology
This article presents an approach to family therapy in which a group of observers becomes part of a therapeutic team by introducing strategic messages into the sessions. The observers, who operate from behind a two‐way mirror, are thus able to effect change in both the family system and the therapeutic system consisting of family and therapist. Messages are described in terms of five components: function, target, timing, content, and delivery. Some guidelines for effective team functioning are given and three examples illustrate the approach. Finally, implications for training are discussed.