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Despite the importance of Bowen family systems theory in the field of family therapy, there have been few studies examining family unit functioning. To fill this gap, a self‐report instrument, the Family Unit Functioning (FUF) questionnaire has been developed. The FUF questionnaire is a multidimensional measure specifically for adults (aged 25+) about nuclear and family‐of‐origin responses to challenges. Eighty‐six adults who were enrolled in Bowen theory training programs participated in an online questionnaire. The FUF assessment tests five dimensions of family unit functioning developed by Papero (2020). The investigators employed a confirmatory factor analysis, and the following analyses results indicate support for four of the five proposed FUF dimensional constructs: 1. resourcefulness; 2. connectedness and integration; 4. systems thinking; and 5. goal structure. However, the third construct, tension management, requires further validation using a larger data source to generate a more favourable result. The potential contribution of the FUF instrument for testing Bowen theory, use as a family psychotherapy assessment tool, and as an indicator of psychotherapeutic outcomes is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practice of integrating various therapeutic disciplines and models in therapy has traditionally been the domain of the experienced practitioner. To encourage the newly trained systemic therapist to embark on their journey in the artistry of integrative practice, this paper addresses the question: 'What guidance and encouragement could be offered to the beginning family therapist to practice in an integrative way?' Central to this paper is the view that the discipline of systemic thinking itself facilitates integration. Based on the notion that complex models of integrative practice may not serve the beginning clinician, three suggestions are offered. First, the overarching theories that support systemic family therapy also provide a platform for moving between schools of family therapy and our professions of origin. Second, the role of common factors is a useful and important guiding principle to practice in an integrative way. And finally, an essential ingredient of integrative practice is the return to therapeutic presence and attunement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of one's professional and personal epistemology is a crucial component of reflexive practice. The following autoethnography focuses on the development of the author's personal epistemology while completing a three‐year Master of Counselling degree. Having worked within the medical model for a decade, the author struggled with choosing between modernism and post‐modernism as a personal epistemology while practicing in a counselling and family therapy clinic that privileged post‐structural and social constructionist epistemologies. This paper examines that struggle. Data were drawn from journal entries documenting reflections, conversations with supervisors and student colleagues, vignettes from sessions, and current research into the development of epistemological positions. Ultimately, the author concludes that it is not modernism versus post‐modernism, but rather the two epistemologies, shaped by personal and professional experiences, that work together to facilitate intentional practice. The importance of examining a personal epistemology has implications for students, educators, supervisors, and practicing professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like many family therapists today my approach to therapy can be described as integrative; it utilises various therapy frameworks and models and combines individual and family therapy approaches in response to the needs of clients and the nature of the work. This paper begins with a brief professional retrospective that illustrates the integrative therapy challenge. It then describes integrative therapy as systemic in the sense of bringing together multiple conversations about therapy based on the idea of an ethic of hospitality. Integration as an ethics of practice is grounded in a finely honed attunement between therapist and client as well as an openness to considering multiple perspectives and frameworks of therapy. This is discussed in relation to the contemporary family therapy literature and illustrated by a practice example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will explore the clinical application of tracking sequences in family therapy with a particular focus on Bowen family systems theory. It considers how sequences can be used to track the emotional process occurring in relationship interactions, and the similarities and differences of a Bowen theory‐informed approach compared with dialectical behaviour therapy and both classic and contemporary family therapy models. Case examples are utilised from the author's clinical practice to raise ideas about the therapist joining the client as a co‐researcher in this exercise and facilitating a process that helps assist the client develop their own self‐awareness and problem‐solving resources in the context of their relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including integrative practice, relationships with integrative practice, and integrative practice in practice.

Working with transgender, gender diverse, and non‐binary (TGDNB) young people and their families requires a family therapist to hold multiple positions of expert, supporter, cheerleader, coach, and creator of a safe space. Anxiety is often high in family systems following a young person's disclosure of their gender diverse identity. Parents experience a range of emotions while trying to support their child to navigate challenging decisions, heavily influenced by society and untold family rules. The existing literature relating to families of TGDNB young people focuses on parental responses and the impact of an affirming or rejecting position. However, little research has focused on working with families to increase their position of support, which ultimately improves outcomes for TGDNB young people. This case study demonstrates the effectiveness of an integrative family therapy approach to working with TGDNB young people and their families, as a way of navigating this challenging and rewarding area of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicidality is a major global public health issue that couple and family therapists will inevitably encounter in their clinical work. While relational therapies for addressing suicidality are growing, few specifically outline ways to address the influence of systemic oppression on suicidality, reflecting the push to de‐politicise suicide research. To address this issue, scholars have proposed integrating narrative approaches with evidence‐based practices. This paper therefore delineates the integration of narrative therapy with dialectical behaviour therapy as a material discursive therapy. All main aspects of theory integration are described, including the epistemological framework, approach to the therapeutic relationship, and interventions. Finally, the change process is described using clinical case examples throughout to illustrate the ways in which these models can be integrated to produce a critical, relational approach for addressing suicidality in family therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrative psychotherapeutic practice is the process of creating a broad, overarching framework as a guide to selecting and combining concepts and interventions. Attracting attention over the past 20 years, it has been identified as the dominant trend in family therapy moving into the 21st century. It is no surprise that clinicians necessarily combine several theories, techniques, and factors in their work given the multidimensional nature of work with clients and families. Integrative practice has evolved over time with different models and frameworks proposed, and yet in the field, there are concerns that it is not widely taught despite many identifying as eclectic or integrative. The purpose of this paper is twofold. Firstly, it reviews the topic of integrative practice, its history, evolution, strengths and pitfalls, and models. Secondly, a systemic meta‐framework is proposed as a guide to clinical practice and teaching. The review found a move from eclecticism to integrative practice, with the evolution of integration leading to five primary methods. The proposed QIFT Systemic Meta‐Framework for Integrative Practice both fits within and extends these methods, with the following key elements: way of being, therapeutic alliance with a focus on neurobiology, systemic assessment and formulation, and decision‐making highlighting theory of change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Couple and family therapy is distinguished from individual therapy due to its focus on the interactional patterns between family members. However, there is plenty of overlap because of the reciprocal relationship between individual psychopathology and its relational contexts. Many clients seeking individual therapy aim to improve their relationships, and couples and families who have relational difficulties often have at least one partner with some type of psychopathology. This article presents integrative systemic therapy (IST) as a method for integrating individual, couple, and family therapy. IST is a multitheoretical and multisystemic perspective that utilises concepts and interventions from a variety of therapies for a broad variety of presenting concerns and populations, including individuals, couples, and families. In IST, a repetitive pattern of interaction is co‐occurring at two levels – within an individuals' minds (i.e., intrapsychic) and externally in people's interactions with others in their system (i.e., interpersonal) – and they influence each other. Therefore, IST therapists utilise various interventions from individual and couple and family therapy within a case to disentangle problems occurring at various systemic levels. The paper begins with a summary of the theoretical assumptions of IST and introduces basic terms such as sequences. This is followed by specific descriptions of two critical tools, essence and blueprint, which walk therapists through the steps of how to conduct IST and integrate individual, couple, and family therapy. Finally, two case examples are used to demonstrate this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of one's professional and personal epistemology is a crucial component of reflexive practice. The following autoethnography focuses on the development of the author's personal epistemology while completing a three‐year Master of Counselling degree. Having worked within the medical model for a decade, the author struggled with choosing between modernism and post‐modernism as a personal epistemology while practicing in a counselling and family therapy clinic that privileged post‐structural and social constructionist epistemologies. This paper examines that struggle. Data were drawn from journal entries documenting reflections, conversations with supervisors and student colleagues, vignettes from sessions, and current research into the development of epistemological positions. Ultimately, the author concludes that it is not modernism versus post‐modernism, but rather the two epistemologies, shaped by personal and professional experiences, that work together to facilitate intentional practice. The importance of examining a personal epistemology has implications for students, educators, supervisors, and practicing professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on working with perpetrators of family violence and their victims. Topics include counsellors, therapists, program facilitators, and case workers draw on the extensive skills and knowledge to encourage perpetrators; and program facilitators, and counsellors for professionals working in the family violence sector.

This paper discusses major cultural differences and corresponding teaching strategies when training student therapists in Taiwan about the concepts of self‐of‐the‐therapist and self‐awareness in marriage and family therapy. The authors present their years of teaching experience and observations about these cultural differences as well as a class example to address these differences. Specifically, a detailed summary of a master's level course titled 'Self‐Development for Helping Professionals' will be illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on shift the perspective from ethnocentrism to multiculturalism. Topics include attending conferences by the American Family Therapy Academy and the European Family Therapy Association; and social expectations of academic performance being high especially among middle-class families in rapidly developing Asian countries.

Over the last three decades, family therapy/counselling in South Korea has expanded significantly in both public and private sectors and this paper overviews its development and the status of public infrastructure. Since the establishment of the Korean Association of Family Therapy in 1988, family counselling has developed as a distinct professional area but was mainly carried out in the private sector until the mid‐2000s. In 2005, the Healthy Family Act was legislated, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family was established, and approximately 250 public family support centers (FSCs) are currently in operation with a key responsibility for family counselling. FSCs provide diverse services such as couple and family counselling, family group counselling, family helpline, and divorce counselling with an estimated 73,392 users in 2018 (KIHF, 2019). Furthermore, 63 FSCs are accredited as institutes for divorce counselling where various forms of service for divorcing families are provided. Although South Korea has one of the most advanced public systems for a family counselling service in Asia, some issues need to be resolved for its sustainable development including counsellor qualifications, appropriate fees, and the balance between public and private services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the clinical utility of family‐based treatment, comprised of multiple family therapy (MFT) and structural family therapy (SFT), in helping Hong Kong Chinese families of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The author identifies the psychosocial service needs of these families and examines the contributions of the adapted MFT and SFT in responding to the psychosocial service needs of these families. Critical issues for clinical practice and research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on the key elements of contemporary family therapy theory and practice including the development of online family therapy from a dialogical perspective. It outlines the family emotions in relation to adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorder, deconstructing the genogram from a gender identity perspective using an anti-oppressive lens. An overview of the theory and practice implications of transitioning from in-person to online family therapy is presented.

Ethno‐Eco‐Systemic (EES) refers to a theoretical clinical perspective that we have been developing at the FyP (fundación Familias y Parejas) in recent years. This work was presented on the day of commemoration of the institution's 40th anniversary and is the result of a collective reflective process. We invite you to consider this perspective as an aesthetic of transdisciplinary thought, closer to art than to technique and which connects ethnographic, ecological, and systemic concepts. From the readings of some thinkers, especially Foucault, Deleuze, Guattari, to mention some of the most influential Europeans; Suely Rolnik and Viveiros de Castro in Brazil; Tato Pavlovski and Gregorio Baremblit in Argentina; and so many others in South America, we have been urged to revisit Bateson and revalue the power of his thinking for the family psychotherapeutic clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Open Dialogue approach has gained increasing international interest outside of its origins in Finland. However, the central principle of promoting dialogue can be a difficult concept to teach and apply. In addition, there is a wide range of authors and articles about Open Dialogue and dialogical approaches creating a potentially overwhelming number of sources for clinicians to consider. In this narrative review, we describe and synthesise the wide range of writings on how dialogue may be promoted in family therapy. This article covers the various uses of the term 'dialogue,' the dialogical mindset of the therapist, recommendations on how to respond to clients during meetings, the involvement of the therapist's 'self' in meetings, and the use of reflecting teams. We present a concise list of recommendations to aid clinicians and to promote further discussion about dialogical practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2018 I wrote an auto‐ethnographic paper about my relationship with Open Dialogue and how it helped me restore my interiority after a commitment of technique‐oriented Post‐Milan therapy. I attempted to document this as an emergent writing style, inviting you into my own momentary world (ing). This current paper serves as a second assemblage, one that surprised me, revealing itself fully this week, focusing instead on Matter, and how the post‐humanist commitment to radically different 'systems' has led to new inchoate relations between my body, that of other species and actors. and caused me to associate further into the rhythms of the seasons, both ecological and in the lives of the families I work with as a therapist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a psychologist and family therapist my professional education has had a significant impact on my personal life and how I see the world. Over the past four years I have been privileged enough to work on a PhD, which has again changed my perspective. This research examines Open Dialogue sessions using conversation analysis, which focuses on normative conversational structures and how they are utilised to achieve social actions. Conversation analysis forced me to abandon previous therapeutic concepts and look at Open Dialogue and family therapy generally from an interdisciplinary perspective. Through this process I have noticed a few recurring ideas: interactions are sequential, psychotherapy involves abstraction, and power is unavoidable and not inherently 'bad.' In this article, I elaborate on these ideas in the first person and how they have changed the way I practice and think about family therapy with reference to the appropriate research and literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treating anorexia nervosa is one of the greatest challenges faced by current health policies. This paper reflects on the social and cultural aspects of this type of eating disorder and proposes an intervention approach based on narrative therapy as a complement to existing treatments. This type of therapy requires a holistic and coordinated vision of the socio‐cultural and community aspects that surround both the person dealing with anorexia and their closest social circle of friends and family. The effects of anorexia, when it becomes the dominant voice in a person's narrative, need to be understood within a broader and more inclusive social context without putting all the responsibility on the person who is being bullied by anorexia. Based on the qualitative results of the Archive of Resistance presented by the Anti‐Anorexia League, narrative therapy is shown to have great potential for transforming the current approach to treating anorexia in English. This paper recommends use of the poststructuralist approach of narrative therapy to collaborate with the person affected by anorexia in Spanish‐speaking cultures. At the same time, it opens a discussion on the need to establish a document database, an Archive of Resistance, in Spanish, to help mitigate the effects of anorexia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are no published studies investigating the effectiveness of relationship counselling (RC) where only one individual attends (individual relationship counselling (IRC)), in improving client psychological distress (PD). This is important to investigate considering the high prevalence of PD in this client group and the potential for its negative effects to cascade into other domains of an individual's life. The current study aims to address this gap by investigating the short‐term effectiveness of IRC on PD. This study further builds on previous research by investigating variables that may explain changes in counselling outcomes, including client demographics, interpersonal factors, and therapeutic factors. Data were collected from a national sample of 273 individuals presenting for RC at an Australian not‐for‐profit organisation. Results from multilevel modelling showed a significant reduction in PD over time with moderate effect size. Further, relationship status, family functioning, and the Task subscale of the Working Alliance Inventory emerged as significant predictors of PD. The results of this study have important implications for routine practice in informing opportunities to target these key variables as an avenue to increasing the effectiveness of IRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, limited research has been undertaken regarding the interplay between differentiation of self (DoS), parental involvement, and the prevalence of psychological symptoms in emerging adults (EA) aged between 18 and 25 years in Australia. The current study aims to assess whether there is an association between mental health symptoms, perceptions of parental warmth, involvement, and autonomy support and indicators of DoS, including self‐regulation capacity and emotional reactivity. In a study of 129 undergraduate students aged between 18 and 30 years, greater DoS, involving both lower emotional reactivity and the ability to take an 'I position' in relation to others, was found to be associated with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms in EA. In addition, EA who demonstrated lower levels of emotional reactivity (higher DoS) had lower scores in depressive and anxiety symptoms. Parenting variables of caregiver warmth and autonomy granting were also found to be related to lower depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as greater DoS in EA. Regression models show that there were main effects for DoS on depressive symptoms; however, parenting behaviours were not found to moderate this relationship. Overall, this research is important as it supports Bowen's (1978) theorising in relation to the relationship between DoS and mental health, and consideration of the contribution of parenting variables to indicators of well‐being in EA. In this, family therapy has a role in educating both young adults and their parents in how best to promote independence and autonomy for improved psychological health. Further research should focus on the complexity of parenting controlling behaviours on mental health symptoms in EA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Art therapy has been increasingly used in mental health settings, particularly for children and families who experience trauma‐induced symptoms. However, there is limited literature on family art therapy in child and adolescent inpatient settings. We describe the use of family art therapy in an inpatient child and adolescent mental health services unit, including images to demonstrate effectiveness. Patient and family member artworks were photographed and used to describe three case studies. Artworks made in art therapy can reveal hidden dysfunction in the family. Recent trauma research supports capacity to access this material safely through non‐verbal visual communication. Family art therapy is a useful intervention to support the identification of an illness in the parent, to improve the attunement between the parent and the child, and for the parent to detach from their child's symptoms by agreeing to get treatment for themselves. If the patient cannot separate from the illness in the parent their symptoms may remain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies show that there are strong links between parental conflict and children's psychosocial problems. The program 'No Kids in the Middle' is a group‐based, time‐limited, multi‐family intervention for children aged between four and 16, living with parents in prolonged conflict after divorce. The program is based on a dialogical framework and the purpose is to create a therapeutic and dialogical space where the parents are invited to see, empathise, and connect with their children and act with their child in mind. This paper presents a qualitative study based on interviews with parents who participated in the program. The analysis of the material led to three main themes: ambivalence – doubt, shame and hope; painful new experiences; and progress and new discoveries. We discuss the findings in relation to the therapists' role and the program's aim of creating a free space for interaction, which seems to be important to the parents' progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth with conduct disorder and their families are difficult to treat and remarkably unresponsive to therapy. A main challenge is treatment engagement. This study's aim was to explore the family's evaluation of active ingredients in family therapy for conduct disorder and discover if those ingredients correspond with the research literature. The intention was to gain more insight into currently known active ingredients and identify any not yet recognised to promote treatment improvement. The study was a qualitative design, using semi‐structured interviews with parents/caregivers, to explore the experiences of families. Four families who had successfully completed Family Centred‐Feedback Informed Therapy, a therapy for youth with conduct disorder, in a regional area of Queensland were involved. A six‐step‐framework thematic analysis was applied whereby the data were analysed and interpreted through the lens of current research (and foundational models and theory). The parents/caregivers who participated in this study endorsed the six known active ingredients of successful family therapy for conduct disorder: therapist adherence, therapeutic alliance, creating a family focus, improved family communication, parenting skills, and delivery in the home. Additional parent/caregiver key ingredients were: putting the problem into words, recognising and adjusting expectations, responding with sensitivity, and youth sees parent/family commitment. Considering a main challenge to successful treatment of conduct disorder is the early engagement of youth and their families, these findings are important. Eliciting parent/caregiver views can add to a more complete investigation of change processes to help obtain maximum gains for families and youth. With this knowledge program developers and therapists may recognise and target specific client factors, including relational factors and beliefs to optimise engagement and change across treatment. The current study results support qualitative research methods in further treatment development including cultural adaptations to programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including model of therapist training to enhance attunement of clinicians to clients; and how psychological distress and issues preventing reunification can be addressed and the parent–child relationship.

Being a cross‐cultural systemic therapist, clinical supervisor, and educator means that culture and language are central to my work. They provide a scaffold to develop deeper understanding, increased trust, and connection between myself and my supervisees, students, and clients and facilitate a process for the latter to connect to their own selves and values. Given the fear and uncertainty generated by the COVID‐19 pandemic, there exists a pervasive activation of the sympathetic nervous system in the community. In this article, I present two case studies as examples of a cross‐cultural/cross‐linguistic approach that facilitates two clients to find a place of comfort and calmness and consequently a balancing activation of the para‐sympathetic nervous system. First is a client who, due to the overwhelming pandemic chaos, suddenly exhibited a host of signs and symptoms of a functional neurological nature, which she experienced as a lack of control and disconnection from her body, her primary language, and herself. Within a trusted therapeutic relationship that draws on the culture and primary language of the therapist, the client regains connection with language and enhances her ability to communicate and connect with her body. Second is an international student who is encouraged to use her culture of origin and primary language to induce calmness, reconnect with herself, and return to the familiar as a 'known' collectively inclusive, comforting, and nurturing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic has changed the delivery of clinical services and education of health professionals, including family therapists. This paper distils two separate Zoom conversations between myself (as the lead author) and two eminent family therapists, Professors Maurizio Andolfi and Harry Aponte, where challenges and opportunities for the profession during and after the pandemic are discussed. Creativity and resourcefulness are two important elements therapists and educators have needed to access during the pandemic to find alternative ways to continue to provide clinical services and teaching. Most therapists have transitioned using online technology and various platforms such as Zoom and Skype; for some this has been a somewhat familiar experience, for most it has been a novel one. Key themes emerged from the conversations including the personal and professional 'lived experiences' of the pandemic; the financial impact on clients and students; the importance of touch for human social connection; the use of 'self' as an instrument of change and alternative platforms of service delivery and teaching. We reflected on what has been lost, such as the nuances inherent in face‐to‐face human interactions, and what has been gained, such as observing families in situ in their own environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, which is authored by members of the Japanese Association of Family Therapy (JAFT), describes the COVID‐19 pandemic in Japan from a family systems perspective. The authors are active members of JAFT and include current and past presidents and officers. We describe the course of the pandemic and the ways in which government policies to mitigate the pandemic have affected Japanese families. Challenges that affect Japanese families include the inability to participate in family and social rituals, prescribed gender roles that specifically affect women, high suicide rates, and prejudice against those who are at risk of spreading the infection. The need to shelter in place has also forced family homes to function as a workplace for parents, classrooms for children, and day care services for frail elders, which has resulted in psychological distress among individuals and conflicts among families. We discuss ways that therapists have worked with Japanese families using online therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID‐19 lockdown in Aotearoa/New Zealand, a discussion panel was convened comprising of family therapy students and experienced family therapists to investigate the effects of the use of online digital mediums for family therapy. This article discusses the learnings from that panel. It seems that the use of a screen can change the power dynamic between therapist and client family, perhaps levelling the field slightly and resulting in implications for the therapeutic relationship. Suggestions for practice are given and the situation is likened to that of the 'mirrored room' proposed by Hare‐Mustin (1994). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co‐therapy has been used widely in marriage and family therapy and counselling, especially in the second half of the last century. In recent years, there has been a decline in the use of co‐therapy, especially for financial reasons. However, currently, with the focus on dialogical ideas, co‐therapy has emerged as a preferable option. Although co‐therapy is now commonly used in dialogical practices, no clear description of the qualities of dialogical co‐therapy exist. Using practitioner research, we attempt to discover/describe specific qualities defining dialogical co‐therapy. The results show how a specific dialogical epistemology is evident in the co‐therapy setting and demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of such a setting, as well as identifying the challenges co‐therapists working dialogically might face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family violence perpetrated by adults is increasingly understood as a health issue, and we argue that this pertains even more strongly to violence by adolescents. The co‐dependence of the parent–child bond, lack of maturity in the adolescent, and often related issues of disability or mental illness make these young people both complex and also vulnerable. This research paper reviews the current literature relating to adolescent violence in the home, identifies known best practice, and evaluates the importance of taking a family‐focused, therapeutic approach to adolescent family violence, in place of a punitive one. It describes the use of a co‐design workshop to unpack gaps in service provision and develop a potential family focused model of care to address the needs both of young people who use violence, and their families. The findings indicate that an inclusive family approach is a key element in addressing adolescent violence in the home across a spectrum of behaviours and mental health care needs. The use of a coordinated, family‐inclusive response through mental health care services is recommended to address the complexity of this issue, as well as to provide support both to adolescents and to their families and carers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional neurological symptom disorder, alternatively termed conversion disorder (FNSD‐CD) (Although the DSM‐5 utilises the term 'conversion disorder', practitioners and consumers consider this to be an outdated, unsubstantiated and often stigmatising term. In accordance with this, the current terminology used in the field is 'functional neurological symptom disorder'), involves symptoms of altered voluntary motor or sensory functions without identifiable nervous system disease or pathology. It is considered a psychiatric disorder and is, thus, listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Ed.; DSM‐5). As per the nosology of the DSM‐5, the discrete behavioural or psychological syndrome or pattern observed in FNSD‐CD is assumed to be a function of a problem of, or a disorder within, the individual. Accordingly, the psychiatric approach to FNSD‐CD, as set out in the DSM‐5, invokes an assumption common to the medical model which is that of lineal (i.e., straight‐line) causality, namely, causal events are arranged in a lineal sequence. The interactional approach, however, which is a development of general system theory in the field of family therapy, offers an alternative approach to understanding psychiatric disorders. Specifically, this approach places the emphasis on the relationships between individuals and their reciprocal influences on – including their psychological and emotional wellbeing with – one another. It draws on the assumption of nonlineal (i.e., circular) causality, namely, causal events are arranged in a circular sequence. From an interactional approach, therefore, FNSD‐CD is thought to be a function of a problem of, or a deficit within, the individuals' relationship/s, rather than within an individual, per se. This article utilises a composite case study to investigate FNSD‐CD from an interactional approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores how attachment relationships and traumatic events affected an unmarried adult's relationship dissolutions as well as a therapeutic intervention. Thematic Analysis was applied to ten sessions of family therapy utilising counselling transcripts, video recordings, and counselling logs. The client's experiences of attachment relationship and traumatic events included an anxious mother, inconsistent parenting in infancy, physical and emotional abuse and unempathetic parents (the absence of a secure base), parental conflict, and divorce. This is described in terms of the absence of an internal working model (the aggravation of an insecure attachment system), and an anxious attachment style and relationship dissolution in adulthood (the fixation of attachment pattern). Effective therapeutic intervention strategies included providing a secure base, mentalising and facilitating a relational experience to help the client resolve their attachment problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As we go to press in a COVID‐19 world, the topic of anxiety is foremost on our minds. While each situation has to be considered in its own context, how to manage different anxieties has common denominators. There is currently a sharp increase in forced migration around the globe so mental health professionals must develop effective skills, like the ability to adapt services to different contexts and cultures, to manage the needs of immigrant people. Problem‐Solving Brief Therapy, as developed at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, is a systemic model of therapy, which aims at promoting change in the complaint the presenting client (the 'talker') cares about. The model's roots in Constructivism foster integrating the clients' beliefs and values into therapy to allow the therapists to adapt to the clients' particular needs. This paper is the analysis of a single case where the therapist worked with an immigrant family because their child suffered from severe anxiety related to the parents' threatened deportation. The paper focuses on premises and strategies that allowed minimising cultural barriers between therapists and family members, thus facilitating a strong therapeutic alliance conducive to improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a heuristic framework that links several key aspects of the psychological models of John Bowlby, Heinz Kohut, and Murray Bowen, generating insight into an underlying set of isomorphic patterns in the shaping and reshaping of the self. This theoretical matrix of interlocking perspectives can facilitate our understanding of the formation – and promote the transformation – of selves as they engage within their familial and social worlds. The first section introduces some of these three authors' key theoretical and therapeutic contributions and provides our rationale for linking some of their ideas and intervention strategies. The second section offers a brief review of earlier attempts at partial integration of these theories and describes the distinctiveness of our proposal. The third section outlines our proposed heuristic framework, which identifies some of the underlying structural similarities in the formation of the self, described in different ways and with varying emphases by these three scholars. Finally, we briefly explore some of the implications of the model for producing clinical insights into distinctive pathways for the transformation of the self. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terms 'Single‐Session Therapy' (SST) and 'One‐At‐A‐Time' (OAAT) therapy are both used to indicate a situation where the therapist and client set out with the expressed intention of helping the client in one session while acknowledging that additional sessions are available to the client. Both terms have their advantages and disadvantages and thus the author uses the blended term 'Single‐Session One‐At‐A‐Time' (SST/OAAT) therapy to highlight the advantages of both. It is a core feature of SST/OAAT therapy that it is client‐centred especially where the session's focus and goal are concerned. However, in an attempt to avoid SST/OAAT therapy being highjacked by therapists who operate from the 'expert' source of influence, the field has downplayed the contribution of the therapist's expertise. In this paper, I make clear that the expertise of the therapist when allied to the expertise of the client can be a potent force for good in SST/OAAT therapy. My main task, however, is to outline my own approach to SST/OAAT therapy which is a blend of general principles that are likely to be held by the majority of SST/OAAT therapist and specific ideas that are derived from working alliance theory, pluralism and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This update presents key developments since Talmon's original (1990) publication, including an account of the three international symposia which have taken place since the last ANZJFT special edition on single session therapy in 2012, and the major compilations that followed the symposia. Underlying elements that unite different single session approaches are explored, and an attempt is made to provide a terminology that is inclusive and coherent. As reflected in the title, the term 'single session thinking' is suggested as an over‐arching term for the approach that is no longer limited to the therapy room, but reaches into many different contexts. In conclusion, possible future clinical and research developments in the field of single session thinking and practice are reflected upon, and the implications for contemporary health care delivery considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing pressure on health and welfare services to provide more efficient and effective services. For one thing, the world's ageing population is resulting in increased pressure on healthcare costs and the availability of government funding. At the same time, community expectations of quick and easy access to high‐quality client‐centred services is growing. Single session ideas can make a valuable contribution to responding to these somewhat competing factors, by providing a basis for effective, efficient, client‐centred, accessible services. This article begins with a functional definition and description of single session therapy (SST), which is used to inform article sections on the attitudinal, clinical, and organisational implications, and ends with ideas for implementing the approach into services, thus, putting SST to work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single session therapy (SST) postulates that one session can be sufficient for a client to take charge of the process and work toward their own solutions. Research has been conducted worldwide corroborating SST assumptions with several mental health conditions, but not in Italy. For the first time in Italy, this paper aims to explore: (1) if the most frequent number of sessions in traditional psychotherapy (not SST) is one (Study 1); and (2) the satisfaction of clients who attend SST services and the number who consider one session sufficient to address their presenting problem (Study 2). In Study 1, the records of 476 voluntary clients referred to three different traditional (not SST) psychological services in the west‐central region of Latium, Italy, were retrospectively screened, and the number of sessions attended by each client recorded. In Study 2, 85 consecutive clients who voluntarily asked for SST with seven mental health professionals across Italy received a link to an online ad hoc survey, 1–3 weeks after the consultation, evaluating their experience. Study 1 found that the most frequent number of traditional psychotherapeutic (not intentionally SST) sessions was one (124 out of 476 clients (26%). Study 2 found that 44 out of 85 clients (52%) considered one session to be enough, as they felt better or much better and chose not to attend further sessions. Of those who asked for a second session (41 clients), 33 clients (80.5%) indicated that the first session was not enough and 8 clients (19.5%) wanted to address a new problem. These results converge with previous international studies and provide encouragement for the use of SST in both private and public psychological services to address the demand for timely mental health services in Italy. Further research is needed to support the efficacy of SST and to evaluate its cost‐effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alison Elliott and James Dokona were interviewed by Henry von Doussa, and this article is the written version of that interview. In it, Alison and James separately refer to issues such as early skepticism about the applicability of a single session therapy approach with Indigenous families (Alison), a growing experience of its 'fit,' philosophically and culturally, and the hope that can be engendered in one conversation. They underline the importance of the oral tradition, and other cultural concepts such as Dadirri (deep listening) as well as the trauma‐informed principles of choice, collaboration, and empowerment, through using their language, asking permission, working together on solutions, and not coming across as an expert. The article is infused with the practical ideas and the values inherent in the authors' work, including permission‐seeking, reflection, containment, and their use of a whiteboard as a resource to capture multiple perspectives, a genogram (including pets), and to facilitate yarning. The flow of this conversation in itself reflects James' imagery of the therapeutic conversation being like a river running – you don't know which way it's going to go. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single session therapy (SST) is grounded in the belief that clients and families can effect change after one therapeutic encounter, using their own resources, with brief support and assistance from therapists. SST has been found to be an effective intervention for children, young people, and their families presenting with a wide range of difficulties. Research in child and adolescent mental health has shown that over 50% of families find one SST encounter is enough with no need for further specialist input. This study aims to explore family member experiences of SST (undertaken as single session family therapy and termed hereafter SSFT) as an initial intervention in a regional child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS), specifically in terms of worry, confidence, and satisfaction outcomes. An exploratory, mixed methods convergent design was utilised using a combination of open questions and Thurstone scales. All eligible family members were invited to complete questionnaires before and after the SSFT, asking about level of worry, confidence, and overall satisfaction with SSFT. Quantitative and qualitative findings indicated most family members had a positive experience of SSFT, although differences were found between young people, parents, and siblings. Overall, family members' level of worry decreased, while only parental confidence in managing the presenting issue(s) increased. Over half of the families did not require further contact with CAMHS following the SSFT. Our findings support previous research that SSFT is an effective, family‐inclusive, and well received intervention for a variety of mental health issues facing children and young people. SSFT could be considered a beneficial and well received first response for the majority of CAMHS clients, which prioritises a family‐inclusive approach. Future research could focus on attaining a more in‐depth understanding of individual family member experiences with a view to improving SST delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic has convulsed human communities across the globe like no previous event in history. Family therapists, paradoxically, given the core of their work is with systems, are also experiencing upheaval in professional and personal lives, trying to work amidst a society in chaos. This paper offers a collection of reflections by systemic and family therapists from diverse cultures and contexts penned in the midst of the pandemic. The main intention in distilling these narratives is to preserve the 'cultural diversity' and 'ecological position' of the contributors, guided by phenomenology, cultural ecology, and systemic worldviews of 'experiencing.' The second intention is to 'unite' promoting solidarity in this isolating situation by bringing each story together, creating its own metaphor of a family: united, connected, stronger. As a cross‐cultural family practitioner, with a strong mission for collaboration, the lead author acknowledges the importance of Context – the nation and location of the experience; Culture – the manner in which culture impacts on experience; Collaboration – enhancing partnership, enriching knowledge, and mapping the journey's direction; and Connectedness – combating isolation while enhancing unity. Since the key transmission of culture is through language, raw reflections were sought initially in the practitioners' own language, which were translated for an English‐speaking readership. These narratives are honest and rich descriptions of the authors' lived experiences, diverse and distinctive. The contributors trust colleagues will find these reflections helpful, validating and acknowledging the challenges of this unique period in history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peter Rober's work (2005a) on the therapist's inner conversation (TIC) has been a significant contribution to understanding the therapist's 'here and now' experience that focuses on the emergence of different voices responding to what is said in the therapy session. Frediani and Rober (2016) conducted an investigation into the experience and TIC of novice therapists concerning emotions aroused and how they deal with them during family therapy. Their research prompted us to ask how this methodology could work with recent graduates and those in the last year of their undergraduate training. This was addressed in the adolescent psychotherapy team that is part of the Equipo de Trabajo y Asesoría Sistémica (Systemic Counselling and Teamwork) (eQtasis) of the Psychology Department of the University of Chile. An important characteristic has been developing an ethics for clinical practice and generating a collaborative reflexive approach as a central aspect of the clinical training. The paper aims to promote the legitimacy of the experience of novice therapists who despite limited professional experience have many stories that connect with what is said in therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paediatric trauma can leave devastating effects on patients and their families if unattended. Medical family therapy (MedFT) is one approach to address the emotional and relational impact of paediatric trauma and prevent possible posttraumatic stress. The biopsychosocial model is widely practiced in MedFT, yet we argue that adding solution‐focused conversations can further enhance practitioner effectiveness and increase client outcome. This article discusses and provides rationale for the use of solution‐focused brief therapy (SFBT) through a biopsychosocial lens when treating paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients and their families. A fictionalised illustration is provided to guide family therapists in applying SFBT to the PICU population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was designed as quasi‐experimental with a pretest and post‐test evaluating the efficacy of narrative therapy on communication patterns for women experiencing low marital satisfaction. Thirty women experiencing low marital satisfaction were chosen using convenience sampling and were randomly assigned to an intervention and waiting list group. The intervention group was treated individually by narrative therapy in eight 45‐minute sessions. Results from repeated measurement ANOVA revealed significant differences between and within the groups and interaction between and within groups. Independent and paired t‐test results showed significant improvement in the intervention group in their marital satisfaction, male‐demand/female‐withdraw, and total demand/withdraw with maintenance at eight weeks follow‐up. Results included increased marital satisfaction, reduced male‐demand/female‐withdraw, and reduced total demand/withdraw. Thus, results show that narrative therapy is effective in increasing the marital satisfaction indicators of male‐demand/female‐withdraw, total demand/withdraw, and marital satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws on the concept of dialogue to describe dialogical supervision and its distinction from traditional approaches. It is argued that supervisors have a range of influences on their work, drawing on both traditional and dialogical orientations. These orientations can complement each other to broaden the range of practices available to a supervisor. Traditional and dialogical supervision can be envisaged on a continuum. The authors study four transcript excerpts from a supervision conversation in which they participated. These excerpts are discussed for their dialogical processes and supervision features. One of the excerpts is described as typical of traditional supervision, while the other three have features of dialogical supervision. The aim is to provide an illustrative point of reference regarding dialogical supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evidence for efficacy of family‐based approaches for psychological problems is extensive, although model‐specific effects have not been established. However, implementation of family therapy approaches in tertiary mental health settings has been challenging due to factors such as negative staff attitudes and difficulties engaging families. Open Dialogue is an emerging network‐based therapy that has a focus on genuine collaboration, flexibility, authenticity, and openness. This study describes the experiences and perspectives of clinicians, service users and families, following training in Open Dialogue, within a child and adolescent mental health service, and an adolescent inpatient unit in public mental health services. A total of 16 participants (11 clinicians and five service users and family members) took part in semi‐structured interviews regarding their experiences with Open Dialogue. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse interview transcripts. Four major themes were identified from interviews with clinicians: valuing responses from families, learning from families and privileging their expertise, hesitation about doing family therapy, and engaging with authenticity and flexibility. Three themes emerged from family interviews: hesitation about doing family therapy, valuing collaboration and openness, and opening space for more talk. These themes are relevant to challenges of family therapy in public mental health settings and future directions for implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]