ABSTRACT
This chapter covers two systemic family therapies: Structural therapy and Milan systemic family therapy. Structural therapy attempts to understand the person in the context of a social system. The first task of the Structural therapist is to join with the family and assume leadership in the therapeutic system. The hallmark of Structural family therapy is the enactment. Given that problematic hierarchies maintain the symptom, Structural therapists attempt to unbalance the system. Unbalancing is when the therapist changes the hierarchical alignment of members in the family. Milan systemic family therapy was developed in Milan, Italy by four Italian psychiatrists: Mara Selvini Palazzoli, Luigi Boscolo, Gianfranco Cecchin, and Giuliana Prata. Milan therapists attempt to determine the sequences of the family game, exploring how relationships become organized in connection to the family myths. Milan therapists develop hypotheses to use as a starting point in contacting the family. Neutrality is a therapist mindset that encompasses several areas.
