ABSTRACT
The main focus of Milan systemic family therapy is on patterns of interaction. The presenting problem, most often exhibited by a child, is considered to be one step in such a pattern, one that has become stuck and can often escalate over time. Families often become stuck because they find it hard to adapt to changing circumstances, be they life stressors or those related to the life cycle. The prefix post in the term post-Milan systemic therapy signals that unlike traditional Milan systemic therapy the post-Milan systemic therapist works collaboratively. In the past, systemic therapists were accused, with others, of taking on an expert role and thinking they could work on the family like a mechanic works on a car. We now aim to join more closely with the family, helping them to see things for themselves and find new ways of interpreting the intentions that can lie behind problematic interactions. In our lives, we sometimes do things to push others away or hurt them. Our intentions are often different. We may be seeking support, asking for boundaries, wanting space, and so on. Opening up these meanings with the family can often make the difference.
