Ecostructural Family Therapy and Maternal Substance Use

This pilot study utilized phenomenological methodology to explore relational systems for ten mothers enrolled in family-centered substance use treatment. Participants described their experiences during motherhood and addiction. Analysis revealed themes that captured the interpersonal relationships of maternal substance use: (1) parent-child relationships in the context of maternal substance use disorders (SUDs), (2) interaction between romantic relationships and maternal substance use, and (3) intergenerational relationships among mothers and grandmothers. Mothers discussed these complicated and simultaneous roles and relationships that impacted their substance use and recovery within the context of family. Using ecostructural family therapy, we offer clinical recommendations with the aim of creating organizational change for families in recovery.

Common Errors in Single-Session Therapy

Single-session thinking and practice are being increasingly recognized as an important component in the landscape of mental health service delivery. At the same time, however, there are some common misunderstandings that may impede applications and further developments. Inspired by Jay Haley's (1969) ironic “The Art of Being a Failure as a Therapist” and others of his articles, the authors describe some ways to avoid successful single-session therapy (SST), including insisting that therapy be only one session; disbelieving that therapy could be only one session; lowering hopeful expectations; avoiding clarifying a specific goal for the session; disregarding real-life issues; insisting on one model of therapy; ignoring context and working against the client's culture; thinking that the only single-session goal should be total resolution of whatever problems have brought the client to therapy; and neglecting implementation, supervision, and administrative support.

Phenomenological-Narrative Inquiry: The Worldview of a Welsh Father Who Lost His Child Through Court-Ordered Adoption

This case study presents the worldview of Kayden, a 23-year-old Welsh Caucasian father whose child was permanently removed from his care through court-ordered adoption. The process adopted a phenomenological-narrative inquiry to therapeutically describe Kayden's worldview. The therapeutic narrative practices of personal dialectics, re-authoring and statement of position maps were used within this inquiry to provide incremental scaffolding towards double-storied development. Kayden's outcome measures are included to reflect some of the beneficial aspects of this process. Limitations of the article and future considerations are also discussed.

Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness: Intention, Attention, Ethics. Part 1

This is the first of a matched pair of articles that present concepts and practices for expanding the territory of narrative therapy to include working with attention and present moment awareness. While the narrative literature richly describes how persons are recruited by normative discourses into problem stories and offers a wide range of practices for developing counter narratives, less has been written about how dominant discourse also captures moment-by-moment attention. The authors share ideas about working with attention in much the same way as working with story. In this first article, the authors identify parallels and differences between narrative therapy and the attentional practices associated with mindfulness before providing a preliminary account of work that draws from both traditions. The practices are depicted in terms of the ethics of daily life, in the sense that enhanced moment-by-moment attention promotes intentional ethical choice.

Integrating Buddhist-Informed Interventions Into Narrative Family Therapy

Culturally responsive couples and family therapy requires incorporating spirituality into clinical practice at the clients’ request. Researchers led a focus group with Buddhist practitioners who work in clinical care settings to better understand the degree of fit between Buddhist practices and narrative family therapy interventions. Compatible practices included mindfulness, externalization, and self of therapist work. While narrative family therapy's model of change has points of divergence from Buddhism, there are ways to incorporate Buddhist beliefs into narrative practices.

Benefits of “Decentered and Influential” Practices During Telehealth: Establishing, Slipping, and Re-Establishing Position in a Therapeutic Conversation

Telehealth therapy has become a common platform to provide therapeutic services during the COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to remain a viable option for services. Most mental health professionals had little prior experience in using this modality and have been experimenting with various ways of ensuring respectful, collaborative and effective ways of offering their services. A Decentered and Influential position offers numerous benefits that support anchoring therapists in a mindset that is conducive to optimized therapeutic conversations especially with people from socio-cultural and generational backgrounds different from their own. The value of this therapeutic position is illustrated by clinical work with a teenager struggling with violence towards family members during the quarantine. A description of clinical work where the therapist slipped to a centered position, and the re-engagement of a Decentered and Influential position, is exemplified by a discussion and preventive suggestions.

Using Narrative Practices in Diverse Indian Contexts

The use of narrative practice within mental health contexts in India is relatively new. This qualitative thematic study reports on how narrative practices are being used by mental health practitioners within and outside of the therapy setting in Mumbai, India. Eleven mental health therapists were interviewed regarding their use of narrative ideas in practice. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and revealed three themes: (1) “Doing It Together” reflected the need to work in partnership, (2) “Quest for Possibility” revealed ways in which therapists were positioned and used narrative ideas to advocate for change within and beyond the therapy room, and (3) “An Evolving Journey” highlighted the personal and professional growth of therapists. Findings reveal that narrative practices have positively impacted the lives of therapists, clients, and the wider community, making it a valuable modality for promoting well-being and mental health in India.