EP21 Keynote 04 - Stories of Psychotherapy - Cloe Madanes, HDL, LIC

Madanes will tell the stories of some of her favorite therapies that are memorable because of how challenging they were, or how creative and innovative were the interventions. In these cases, she was either the therapist herself, or the supervisor observing the therapy through a one-way mirror. The audience will be challenged to discover the common thread - the strategy that all these therapies have in common.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the strategy of Pretending
2. Explain how to make an offer that can't be refused
3. Describe questioning as a form of reframing

Outline:

Introduction and Acknowledgements

• Dr. Zeig introduces Cloe Madanes, praising her influence on family therapy and his own work.

• Cloe outlines her talk on strategic family therapy and its core ideas.

Basic Concepts of Strategic Family Therapy

• Focuses on changing social context, especially family, to solve problems.

• Introduces directives as the active tool, contrasting with psychoanalytic interpretations.

• Core values: respect, responsibility, and avoiding labels or diagnoses.

• Therapist takes full responsibility for both process and outcome, adjusting strategies as needed.

Spirituality and Violence in Therapy

• Cloe discusses addressing spiritual pain in cases of violence and abuse.

• Describes “reversing the hierarchy”: empowering children to help improve their parents' relationship, leading to healing.

• Example: addict father and devout mother improve their marriage through child-led activities.

Creating Good Memories and The Art of the Deal

• “Creating good memories” helps couples reconnect and improve health and emotional intimacy.

• Example: referencing “Gone with the Wind” to inspire one couple; regular memory-making improves their bond and the wife’s diabetes.

• “Art of the Deal”: negotiating with a paranoid schizophrenic teen to leave advanced classes and join basketball—leading to recovery.

Work with Violence: 15 Steps Method

• Detailed method for treating sexual abuse cases, addressing both victim and offender.

• Involves full family participation, acknowledgment of harm, repentance, and rituals.

• Steps include identifying a protector, planning reparations, and restoring familial roles and love.

Q&A Session with Dr. Zeig

• Cloe answers questions about applying her methods with LGBTQ+ families.

• Describes use of rituals like apologies or symbolic gestures (e.g., head shaving).

• Emphasizes the value and teachability of strategic therapy through ongoing learning and practice.