Brief strategic family therapy with Aboriginal families
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Abstract
Family therapy is an effective approach o helping families resolve complex issues and restore the balance enabling individual members to change and grow. Although the family therapy field has grown immensely since the 1950s, there has been little theoretical research or practical knowledge on family therapy with Aboriginal families. The focus of this practicum was to work with Aboriginal families utilizing a brief strategic family therapy model combined with in home sessions. The practicum provided an opportunity to learn about the unique strengths and problems of Aboriginal families seeking family therapy services. The practicum was evaluated using the Family Environment Scale, an instrument never before utilized with Aboriginal families in Canada. I will present a model of working with Aboriginal families integrating mainstream approaches with an Aboriginal perspective and discuss how brief strategic family therapy principles combined with in-home sessions can be utilized effectively with Aboriginal families.