How are maladaptive symptoms viewed in Strategic Family Therapy?

In Strategic Family Therapy, maladaptive symptoms are understood primarily as interpersonal control strategies. This perspective emphasizes that behaviors or symptoms exhibited by an individual are often attempts to influence or control their family dynamics. Therapists focus on the functionality of these behaviors, meaning they are seen as strategies that individuals use to exert power, gain attention, or manipulate family interactions.

The understanding here is that symptoms are not just personal issues or signs of internal conflict; rather, they are often utilized by individuals to achieve specific outcomes within their relational context. This approach is distinct from other therapeutic models that may focus on symptoms as isolated problems within an individual, thereby placing less emphasis on the role of family dynamics and interactions.

By conceptualizing maladaptive symptoms as control strategies, therapists are better equipped to design interventions that modify the underlying patterns of interaction within the family, ultimately seeking to alter the dynamics that sustain the maladaptive behavior.