Abstract
Symbolic-experiential family therapy (SEFT) is facing an important phase in its development. With the death of Carl Whitaker, it is not certain in which direction SEFT will be headed. This paper describes some of the challenges that SEFT presently faces and what can be done to surmount them. It is proposed that SEFT theorists and therapists concentrate on the post-modern components of the theory. By moving in a post-modern, constructionist direction, SEFT will be developing with a current trend in family therapy, allowing SEFT to continue as an important family therapy model.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Boszormenyi-Nagy, I., & Krasner, B. T. (1986). Between give and take: A clinical guide to contextual therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Broderick, C. B. (1981). Couples: How to confront problems and maintain loving relationships. New York: Basic Books.
Broderick, C. B., & Schrader, S. S. (1991). The history of professional marriage and family therapy. In A. S. Gurman & D. P. Kniskern (Eds.), Handbook of Family Therapy (vol. 2) (pp. 3–40). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Brown, L. S. (1994). Subversive dialogues: Theory in feminist therapy. New York: Basic Books.
Connell, G. M. (1996). Carl Whitaker: In memoriam. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 22, 3–8.
Connell, G. M., Mitten, T. J., & Whitaker, C. A. (1993). Reshaping family symbols: A symbolic-experiential perspective. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 19, 243–251.
Connell, G. M., & Russell, L. A. (1986). In-therapy consultation: A supervision and therapy technique of symbolic-experiential family therapy. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 14, 313–323.
Connell, G. M., Whitaker, C. A., Garfield, R., & Connell, L. (1990). The process of intherapy consultation: A symbolic-experiential perspective. Journal of Strategic and Systemic Therapies, 9, 32–38.
Crane, D. R. (1995). Health care reform in the United States: Implications for training and practice in Marriage and Family Therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 115–125.
Falicov, C. J. (1995). Training to think culturally: A multidimensional comparative framework. Family Process, 34, 373–388.
Hardy, K. V., & Laszloffy, T. A. (1995). The cultural genogram. Key to training culturally competent family therapists. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 227–237.
Hare-Mustin, R. T. (1994). Discourses in the mirrored room: A post modern analysis of therapy. Family Process, 33, 19–35.
Keith, D. V. (1987). Intuition in family therapy: A short manual on postmodern witchcraft. Contemporary Family Therapy, 9, 11–22.
Keith, D. V., Connell, G. M., & Whitaker, C. A. (1991). A symbolic-experiential approach to the resolution of therapeutic obstacles in family therapy. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 2, 41–56.
Keith, D. V., Connell, G. M., & Whitaker, C. A. (1992). Group supervision in symbolic-experiential family therapy. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 3, 93–109.
Keith, D. V., & Whitaker, C. A. (1981). Play therapy: A paradigm for work with families. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 7, 243–254.
Luepnitz, D. A. (1988). The family interpreted: Psychoanalysis. feminism, and family therapy. New York: Basic Books.
Mitten, T., & Piercy, F. P. (1993). Learning symbolic-experiential therapy: One approach. Contemporary Family Therapy, 15, 149–168.
Napier, A. Y. (1987). Early stages in experiential marital therapy. Contemporary Family Therapy, 9, 23–41.
Napier, A. Y., & Whitaker, C. A. (1978). The family crucible. New York: Harper & Row.
Neill, J. R., & Kniskern, D. P. (Eds.). (1982). From psyche to system: The evolving therapy of Carl Whitaker. New York: Guilford Press.
Newmark, M., & Beels, C. (1994). The misuse and use of science in family therapy. Family Process, 33, 3–17.
Storm, C. L. (1991). Placing gender in the heart of MFT masters programs: Teaching a gender sensitive systemic view. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 17, 45–52.
Sugarman, S. (1987). Teaching symbolic-experiential family therapy: The personhood of the teacher. Contemporary Family Therapy, 9, 138–145.
Von Foerster, H. (1984). On constructing a reality. In P. Watzlawick, (Ed.), The invented reality. How do we know what we believe we know?: Contributions to constructivism (pp. 41–61). New York: Norton.
Weingarten, K. (1991). The discourses of intimacy: Adding a social constructionist and feminist view. Family Process, 30, 45–59.
Weingarten, K. (1992). A consideration of intimate and non-intimate interactions in therapy. Family Process, 31, 45–59.
Whitaker, C. A. (1982a). Gatherings. In J. R. Neill & D. P. Kniskern (Eds.). From psyche to system: The evolving therapy of Carl Whitaker (pp. 365–375). New York: Guilford Press.
Whitaker, C. A. (1982b). My philosophy of psychotherapy. In J. R. Neill & D. P. Kniskern (Eds.). From psyche to system: The evolving therapy of Carl Whitaker (pp. 31–35). New York: Guilford Press.
Whitaker, C. A. (1982c). Process techniques of family therapy. In J. R. Neill & D. P. Kniskern (Eds.). From psyche to system: The evolving therapy of Carl Whitaker (pp. 283–304). New York: Guilford Press.
Whitaker, C. A. (1982d). The hindrance of theory in clinical work. In J. R. Neill & D. P. Kniskern (Eds.). From psyche to system: The evolving therapy of Carl Whitaker (pp. 317–329). New York: Guilford Press.
Whitaker, C. A. (1982e). The technique of family therapy. In J. R. Neill & D. P. Kniskern (Eds.). From psyche to system: The evolving therapy of Carl Whitaker (pp. 217–228). New York: Guilford Press.
Whitaker, C. A. (1989). A panoramic view of psychotherapy. In M. O. Ryan (Ed.). Midnight musings of a family therapist (pp. 151–156). New York: Norton.
Whitaker, C. A., & Bumberry, W. M. (1988). Dancing with the family: A symbolic-experiential approach. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Whitaker, C. A., Felder, R. E., & Warkentin, J. (1982). Countertransference in the family treatment of schizophrenia. In J. R. Neill & D. P. Kniskern (Eds.). From psyche to system: The evolving therapy of Carl Whitaker (pp. 229–249). New York: Guilford Press.
Whitaker, C. A., & Garfield, R. (1987). On teaching psychotherapy via consultation and cotherapy. Contemporary Family Therapy, 9, 106–115.
Whitaker, C. A., & Keith, D. V. (1981). Symbolic-experiential family therapy. In A. Gurman & D. Kniskern (Eds.), Handbook of family therapy (pp. 187–225). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Whitaker, C. A., & Keith, D. V. (1982). Symbolic-experiential family therapy. In J. R. Neill & D. P. Kniskern (Eds.), From psyche to system: The evolving therapy of Carl Whitaker (pp. 330–363). New York: Guilford Press.
White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative means to therapeutic ends. New York: Norton.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Smith, G.L. The Present State and Future of Symbolic-Experiential Family Therapy: A Post-Modern Analysis. Contemporary Family Therapy 20, 147–161 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025073324868
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025073324868