BT16 Topical Panel 05 - Family and Marital Therapy - Lynn Lyons, Wendel Ray, Stan Tatkin, and Jeffrey Zeig

Description:

Educational Objectives:

1. Compare and contrast clinical and philosophical perspectives of experts.

*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*

Outline:

Introduction and Panel Setup

• Jeff Zieg outlines the session: each panelist presents for 5 minutes, followed by interaction and Q&A.

• Emphasis on audience participation to solve clinical challenges.

• Panelists: Lynn Lyons, Wendell Ray, and Stan Tatkin.

Wendell Ray on Marital Therapy

• References Don Jackson’s 1956 work on relational control in marriage.

• Central issue: who controls the definition of the relationship.

• Pathology arises when control becomes a persistent struggle.

• Highlights the therapeutic value of understanding power dynamics.

Stan Tatkin on Couple and Family Therapy

• Uses a psycho-biological model focusing on brain, body, and relational systems.

• Prefers working with dyads instead of whole families for clarity and depth.

• Breaks down families into couples-style units to enhance treatment effectiveness.

Jeff Zieg’s Case: Child with Agoraphobia

• 10-year-old boy with agoraphobia from a working-class family.

• Uses a puzzle metaphor to engage the child and involve the family.

• Applies Ericksonian techniques like externalization and storytelling.

• Encourages family-wide participation to resolve the child’s symptoms.

Lynn Lyons on Anxious Families

• Works with anxious children and parents through immediate, action-based methods.

• Describes anxiety as a “cult leader” and uses a whiteboard metaphor to visualize this.

• Focuses on empathy, creativity, and playful realism to build trust and connection.

• Prioritizes presence and adaptability over rigid methods.

Therapist Confidence and Communication

• Tatkin and Lyons stress the importance of therapist self-assurance.

• Therapists should use plain language, build quick rapport, and stay authentic.

• Confidence and consistency improve trust and therapeutic success.

• Therapists must balance discipline with flexibility and realness.

Jeff Zieg on Hypnosis in Family Therapy

• Hypnosis can down-regulate emotion and access adaptive states.

• Uses techniques like amnesia and age regression to understand family roles.

• Emphasizes viewing hypnotic states as natural parts of family interaction.

• Recommends integrating hypnotic tools with systemic awareness.

Audience Q&A and Final Thoughts

• Question about countering hypnotic inductions in couples/family therapy.

• Zieg and Tatkin suggest using hypnosis to regulate affect and create change.

• Panelists reiterate the importance of therapist creativity, playfulness, and self-trust.