Family Therapy as a Parameter of Individual Psychotherapy

AS WITH MANY RAPIDLY evolving treatment techniques, family therapy has come to be viewed by many of its advocates as a treatment method that is all encompassing, applicable to every patient that possesses an intact, or partially intact, family. A number of institutions have been established that provide only family therapy: services have also been established within larger institutions with the same intent. While this leads to refinement and elaboration of the tool it also leads to polarization. The "family therapy" agency or service often "feels" on the defensive vis-a-vis the larger professional community and is frequently attacked by detractors. The profamily therapy professional often becomes excessively enthusiastic about family therapy and de-emphasizes other techniques. A similar development of an opposite sort may take place with the "anti-family therapy" group. Pressures result in the "family therapy" agency almost becoming an organization cum dogma, and with a fierce parochialism not unlike some re-gious or quasireligious sects. Opponents are manufactured, if they do not exist, to serve as external scapegoats. This results in consolidation within the group, with internal discipline established and rigidly maintained. Criticism or questioning from within is viewed as heresy. Internal differences, reservations and cleavages are ignored and a false sense of conviction established. Later, these internal problems reach a point where they can no longer be glossed over and the organization perishes, or a new and more realistic appreciation of the agency and its treatment modality is reached. There are those professionals who do not get caught up in the polemics