Integration of theories and techniques in the practice of family therapy

Author(s)

Gabriela Silveira de Paula Ravagnani

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2019-12-10

Examining board members

Carla Guanaes Lorenzi; Liana Fortunato Costa; Maria Aparecida Crepaldi; Laura Vilela e Souza

• Advisor: Carla Guanaes Lorenzi

Abstract

The concomitant use of different theoretical and technical models is part of daily practice in family therapy (TF), and the expansion and sophistication of these practices raise questions about the professionals\' criteria to use different theories and techniques. The aim of this qualitative study is to understand how family therapists integrate theories and techniques in their daily clinical practice. Specifically, we aim to describe the resources used by therapists in family therapy sessions, and reflect on their theoretical justifications, articulating them with the literature. The theoretical-methodological design is based on collaborative action research, and the social constructionisms premises for research. The participants were two family therapists and their clients attended in family therapy, whose sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed. The sessions were carried out at the therapists offices. Most part of the corpus information came from two sources: family therapy sessions and conversations carried out with each therapist after ten sessions. The data construction and analysis were based on alternations between cycles of action and reflection. The researcher and each therapist worked in co-therapy in a family therapy process, and information from 10 sessions was systematically recorded. After the end of each therapeutic process, the therapists had access to the sessions analysis and we had a conversation guided by the interest in constructing justifications for their actions. Each conversation was transcribed and analyzed. The analysis process generated five categories: exploratory actions, actions for the construction of relational visions, actions for the construction of contextual communication, and actions for family orientation. The categories were exemplified with session excerpts, in which we emphasized the technical and theoretical resources behind them. Finally, we propose reflections about integration, and the therapists clinical practice were described in terms of three dimensions: sensitive to clients and context, producing knowledge with people, and self-reflexive. These dimensions indicate that integration is not a position that the therapist chooses a priori, since it is not possible to predict which resources will be used in a session. The study indicates that integration occurred relationally and responsively to specificities of people and contexts. We conclude that integration involves a therapist\'s openness to chaos and the unpredictability of human encounters, and we question the viability of a \"purist\" therapist, that is, practices based on a single model, since the use of multiple features enhance the possibilities to create generative dialogues. Finally, we present research contributions to the professional field: we instigate debates about the notions of coherence, consistency and rigor in clinical practice, offer a description of the results that dialogue more directly with clinical daily practice, and present investigation models for both academic researches and training institutes. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/21316-1 - Integration of theories and techniques in the practice of family therapy
• Grantee: Gabriela Silveira de Paula Ravagnani
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate