EP00 Invited Address 4a - Family Injustice and Social Action Therapy - Cloe Madanes, Lic. Psychol.

Description:

Ms. Madanes will present a new way of thinking about how injustice in the family can lead to marital and family problems. She will present step by step procedures for discovering an injustice in the family and resolving it effectively so as to solve major problems, violence and depression, panic, child and adolescent problems and sexual abuse.

Educational Objectives:

1. To describe how marital problems are related to family issues and why to engage the social network in therapy.
2. To describe how to use effective brief therapy techniques and rituals in therapy. 

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

Outline:

• Introduction to the Session

  • Milton H. Erickson Foundation hosts a conference on psychotherapy.

  • Christine Padesky introduces Cloe Madanes, noting her accomplishments and humor.

• Reflections on Freud and Modern Therapy

  • Madanes critiques Freud’s shift from recognizing child abuse to focusing on fantasy.

  • She warns against modern therapy's overreliance on pharmaceuticals and economic influences.

  • Emphasizes real-world interactions and violence as root causes of mental illness.

• Focus on Violence and Spiritual Pain

  • Madanes has spent 15 years on secondary prevention of violence.

  • Highlights the spiritual pain of both victim and victimizer.

  • Advocates reintroducing spirituality into therapy to address deep emotional wounds.

• Injustice in Families

  • Differentiates overt (e.g., incest) and covert injustices (e.g., betrayals).

  • Symptoms often emerge to counter injustice (e.g., panic attacks for power).

  • Therapists should uncover and address these family dynamics.

• Therapeutic Approach and Use of Directives

  • Uses an interactional model focused on changing social context.

  • Key tool: the directive—an action-oriented task, direct or metaphorical.

  • Encourages clients to think of the therapist outside sessions.

  • Believes behavior change leads to emotional and cognitive change.

• Utilization and Cultural Sensitivity

  • Follows Milton Erickson’s principle of using clients’ beliefs and language.

  • Avoids jargon, respects cultural norms, and treats family as a healing system.

  • Reframes family members as helpers in the therapeutic process.

• 15-Step Reparation Method

  • Developed for violent cases, including juvenile sex offenders.

  • Includes gathering facts, accepting responsibility, expressing repentance.

  • Involves kneeling apologies and full-family participation in validating sincerity.

  • Focused on justice, healing, and family unity.

• Audience Discussion

  • William Glasser praises Madanes and supports focusing on relationships.

  • He emphasizes school reform and child abuse prevention.

  • Audience asks about integrating therapy with prisons, religion, and diverse cultures.

  • Madanes and Glasser stress the therapist’s role in advocating for vulnerable children.