Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT)

his article describes a systematic program of research that focuses on Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) and the adaptations that were developed based on BSFT principles. The culture-specific origins of BSFT are reviewed, as well as its broader applications to the field of family therapy. Research is reviewed demonstrating that BSFT is a promising family-based approach to treating Hispanic youth behavior problems and drug abuse. Treatment innovations are described that address the combination of intergenerational and cultural differences that occur among youths and their Hispanic parents. Programmatic work is described that challenges basic principles of family therapy by expanding BSFT to a One Person modality and a strategic engagement
This program is developed through a strategy of integrating theory, research, and practice. Although we are testing other theoretical paradigms at the Center for Family Studies, the focus of this article is on Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) and the interventions that emerged from this model. The BSFT framework is the result of a continuous interplay among theory, research, application at several levels (Coatsworth, Szapocznik, Kurtines, & Santisteban, 1997; Szapocznik, Kurtines, & Santisteban, 1994; Szapocznik et al., 1997; Szapocznik, Kurtines, Santisteban, & Rio,
Regarding application, our work has largely focused on developing family-based interventions for the remarkably persistent problem of conduct problems and drug abuse among Hispanic and African American youths. This emphasis on the family is consistent with most minority culturally defined values that give family a pivotal role in human development (Szapocznik, 1994). With respect to research, we have (a) investigated various aspects of structural family systems theory and expanded its boundaries, (b) developed and validated a measure of structural family functioning, (c) conducted efficacy trials based on structural family systems theory, and (d) explored the role that cultural factors may play in intervention development and treatment outcomes. The BSFT approach to working with families described in this article is a direct outgrowth of our efforts to develop and investigate theoretically based and culturally appropriate interventions for youths with both behavior problems and drug