Abstract
The authors propose that self-of-the-therapist work is most productive when therapists and supervisors approach family of origin issues and historical life events in a balanced way and suggest that they move to an approach that ideally liberates restraints posed by self-of-the-therapist issues, while at the same time accesses resources available to therapists because of the same issues. This is a shift from the primarily restraint focus that has dominated self-of-the-therapist work. This paper also provides personal experiences of the authors, guidelines on how to create safety and balance, as well as practical examples of self-of-the-therapist exercises.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Andolfi, M. & Menghi, P. (1980). A model for training in family therapy. In M. Andolfi & I. Zwering (Eds.), Dimensions of family therapy (pp. 239–260). New York: Guilford Press.
Aponte, H. (1994). How personal can training get? Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 20, 3–15.
Auld, F., & Hyman, M. (1991). Resolution of inner conflict: An introduction to psychoanalytic therapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Bachelor, A., & Horvath, A. O. (1998, in press). The therapeutic relationship. In M. A. Hubbel, B. L. Duncan, and S. Miller (Eds.), The heart and soul of change: Common factors in effective psychotherapy, medicine, and human services (pp. 133–178). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Beck, D. F., & Jones, M. A. (1973). Progress on family problems: a nationwide study of clients' and counselors' views on family agency services. New York: Family Service Association of America.
Bowen, M. (1978). Family therapy in clinical practice. New York: Jason Aronson.
Braverman, S. (1984). Family of origin as a training resource for family therapist. In C. Munson (Ed.), Family of origin applications in clinical supervision (pp. 37–48). New York: Haworth Press.
Braverman, S. (1997). The use of genograms in supervision. In T. Todd & C. Storm (Eds.), The complete systemic supervisor: Context, philosophy, and pragmatics (pp. 156–172). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
de Shazer, S. (1985). Keys to solution in brief therapy. New York: W. W. Norton.
Fine, M. (1992). Family therapy training: Part 2—Hypothesizing and story telling. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 3, 61–79.
Guerin, P., & Fogarty, T. (1972). Study your own family. In A. Ferber, M. Mendelsohn, & A. Napier (Eds.), The book of family therapy (pp. 445–467). New York: Science House.
Haley, J. (1976). Problem solving therapy: New strategies for effective psychotherapy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Kelly, G. (1990). The cultural family of origin: A description of a training strategy. Counselor Education and Supervision, 30, 77–84.
Liddle, H., & Saba, G. (1982). Teaching family therapy at the introductory level: A model emphasizing a pattern which connects training and therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 8, 63–72.
Marek, L. I., Sandifer, D. M., Beach, A., Coward, R. L., & Protinsky, H. O. (1994). Supervision without the problem: A model of solution-focused supervision. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 5, 57–64.
McDaniel, S. & Landau-Stanton, J. (1991). Family-of-origin work and family therapy skills training: Both-and. Family Process, 30, 459–471.
McGoldrick, M. (1982). Through the looking glass: Supervision of a trainee's “trigger” family. In R. Wiffen & J. Byng-Hall (Eds.), Family therapy supervision (pp. 17–37). London: Academic Press.
McGoldrick, M., & Gerson, R. (1985). Genograms in family assessment. New York: W. W. Norton.
Minuchin, S., & Fishman. H. (1981). Family therapy techniques. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Napier, A. Y., & Whitaker, C. (1978). The family crucible: The intense experience of family therapy. New York: Harper.
Scharff, D. (1992). Refinding the object and reclaiming the self. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
Schwartz, R. (1995). Internal family systems. New York: Guilford Press.
Selekman, M. D., & Todd, T. C. (1995). Co-creating a context for change in the supervisory system: The solution-focused supervision model. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 14, 21–33.
Wells, V., Scott, R., Schmeller, L., & Hillman, J. (1990). The family-of-origin framework: A model for clinical training. Journal of Contemporary Psychiatry, 20, 223–235.
Wetchler, J. L. (1990). Solution-focused supervision. Family Therapy, 17, 129–138.
White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative means to therapeutic ends. New York: W. W. Norton.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Timm, T.M., Blow, A.J. Self-of-the-Therapist Work: A Balance Between Removing Restraints and Identifying Resources. Contemporary Family Therapy 21, 331–351 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021960315503
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021960315503