AAMFT Masters
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These tapes are live family interviews with prominent family therapists in our field. They all include a pre-session and post-session discussion and a family interview. Tapes are approximately two hours long, in color, and of very good audio-visual quality.
Maurizio Andolfi: "The Princess and the Family Mask"
Dramatic demonstration of the use of provocation to generate a high level of intensity. Confrontational consultation features a three generation blended family whose oldest daughter (age 13) is not living at home because of her disruptive behaviors. (158 minutes, 1985)
Harry Aponte: "A Daughter Who Needs A Mother"
Eco-Systemic model, incorporating class, racial and ethnic experience of both family and therapist, is applied to a poor black family suffering a legacy of deprivation. Mother lacks confidence and skill to parent her children, forcing her 14 year old daughter to do so. After running away from home to pursue the attention of older men, actions culminate in a suicide gesture. An experience is created for the mother to reach out to her daughter. (120 minutes, 1991)
Insoo Berg and Steve DeShazer: "Success Story"
Solution-focused treatment model uses miracle and scaling questions to demonstrate a method of how the therapist can help the family recognize their progress. Reflecting team discussion and delivery of message to the family uncovers unrecognized successes. (120 minutes, 1991)
James Framo: "Longing For Dad"
Two oldest of four adult children hold feelings of resentment and disappointment toward their natural father, step father and mother. A context is provided that permits communication about the destructive nature of their relationships and allows the parents to face power and control issues in their marriage. (120 minutes, 1984)
Edwin Friedman: "Getting Unstuck"
Bowen model is used in this approach that focuses on the non-anxious, differentiated presence of the therapist. A genogram is used to map an approach with this highly reactive couple who are "stuck"- unable to live together or separately once and for all. (120 minutes, 1991)
Evan Imber-Black: "If Only We Could Cancel Christmas"
Family Ritual framework is used to explore the impact of the recent suicide of an adult alcoholic son on his mother, father, stepmother and adults sister. Fears of the upcoming holidays are explored and conclude with a deliberately vague outline of a Christmas ritual for them to work on with their therapist. (105 minutes, 1988)
Neil Jacobson: "A Behavioral Approach"
The Integrated Behavioral Couples model is demonstrated which adds strategies that promote "acceptance of partner" to balance and enhance the traditional behavior focus on change. (120 minutes, 1992)
Joanne Krestan: "Krestan explores gender dynamics in a heterosexual couple"
The Husband has been sober for three years and both partners are in 12-step programs. (110 minutes,1987)
Salvador Minuchin: "Unfolding The Laundry"
Large blended dual career family with five stepchildren. IP is the youngest son (age I 1) who is acting out. Simplicity and humor lure the family into desiring the necessary change. Minuchin follows the family's lead in defining the problem, demonstrating his expert ability at not being an expert. A great tape (BR). (147 minutes, 1984)
Peggy Papp: "The Elephant and the Mouse"
A couples faces upheaval in their traditional sex role patterns and is stuck by "angry glue" that binds them together. Wife is stalemated in her attempts to gain more equality in the marriage as she struggles to be more assertive, and the husband has difficulty in adjusting to her new expectations. (125 minutes, 1989)
Frank Pittman: "The Lone Ranger"
The issue of the husband's infidelities permeates a couple's marriage. The importance of empathy is revitalized as a gender-sensitive approach is demonstrated that puts the responsibility for infidelity on both of them. (120 minutes, 1991)
Olga Silverstein: "Putting the Brakes on Mother"
A traditional middle class, intact family presenting serious school and drug-related behavior problems in the two adolescents sons. Focus strategically placed on the theme of defiance versus independence and the ambivalence of both the parents and the children caught in the development paradox of separation and attachment. (120 minutes, 1986)
Marianne Walters: "Laughing Till It Hurts"
A young couple, married eight years with two children (not present in the session) desire an end to the bickering, criticism, and angry explosive encounters that end in divorce threats. They are challenged to realize that they are operating within socialized gender roles and expectations.
(125 minutes, 1989)
Paul Watzlawick: "Mad or Bad"
Consultation with a family whose 25 year old son presents chronic somatic symptoms. Employs strategic use of Ericksonian-style questions: "what for" instead of "why' and the "worst fantasy" technique. Systemic function of symptoms in protecting the family from other problems is highlighted. (136 minutes, 1987)
Michael White: "Escape From Bickering"
Consultation with a family with an 18 year old son institutionalized for firesetting. Through circular, strategic and reflexive questions and the techniques of externalizing and mapping the influence of problems, the family is helped to discover new information about themselves. A reflecting team is used to consolidate the family's "new story' which emerges in the session. (135 minutes, 1989)