The Therapist's Battle for Structure and Initiative: A Review

April 18, 2017 Ili Rivera Walter, PhD, LMFT

In their now classic family therapy text, The Family Crucible (1978), Napier and Whitaker outline two main “battles” between therapists and clients: The battle for structure and the battle for initiative.

At the time of their writing, concepts of resistance and unconscious processes were accepted within the family therapy field; this may have been due, partly, to the fact that many family therapy pioneers were trained as psychiatrists. While family therapy has moved beyond these views of the therapist-client relationship, there are still ways in which family therapists can use Napier and Whitaker's "battles" to inform and enhance their work.

Appreciative Inquiry: How to Facilitate "Powerfully Positive" Change in Therapy

March 14, 2017 Ili Rivera Walter, PhD, LMFT

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is an approach to change that invites "what gives life" to people and systems to be noticed, discussed, and owned. This specific style of inquiry involves, "the art and practice of asking questions that strengthen a system’s capacity to apprehend, anticipate, and heighten positive potential” (Cooperrider & Whitney, 2005). The goal of AI is to build an appreciation--a positive core--within groups .

Solution Focused Brief Couples Therapy Tips, with Elliott Connie

February 7, 2017 Ili Rivera Walter, PhD, LMFT

Solution Focused Brief Couples therapy-Tips from Elliott Connie

Elliott Connie is a Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) practitioner, author, and speaker. He developed an approach to couples work that distills the essence of SFBT into guiding principles for working with couples.

As a therapist who loves working with couples, I am always interested in ways to enhance my couples therapy skills. For this reason, I invited Elliott to explain the reasons why SFBT is his choice for working with clients, as well as how it creates a contrasting experience for couples that have a history in therapy.

Four Systemic Steps for Addressing Anxiety with Therapy Clients

November 22, 2016 Ili Rivera Walter, PhD, LMFT

From a systems theory perspective, we, as individuals, exist within a network of relationships and relational interactions. It is within these relationships that problems occur and reside; it is also within these relationships that solutions are generated and maintained (Becvar, 1998).

A systemic approach for guiding clients through addressing, managing, and living well with anxiety takes into consideration not only clients’ relationships with themselves and significant others, but also their relationships with anxiety.