Jessica E. Lambert, PhD, Trauma, Health & Hazards Center, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs; Alyson H. Skinner, BA, Department of Educational & Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York; Micki L. Friedlander, PhD, Department of Educational & Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York.
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Problematic Within-Family Alliances in Conjoint Family Therapy: A Close Look at Five Cases
Article first published online: 26 MAY 2010
DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2010.00212.x
© 2010 American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
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How to Cite
Lambert, J. E., Skinner, A. H. and Friedlander, M. L. (2012), Problematic Within-Family Alliances in Conjoint Family Therapy: A Close Look at Five Cases. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38: 417–428. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2010.00212.x
The authors would like to thank Laurie Heatherington and Valen Escudero for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of this article.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 18 APR 2012
- Article first published online: 26 MAY 2010
- Abstract
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We intensively analyzed five sessions in which the within-family alliance was manifestly problematic and family members reported discrepant perceptions of the family’s sense of purpose about working together in therapy. Triangulation of observer ratings with (a) session content, (b) participants’ postsession perceptions, (c) therapists’ alliance-related interventions, and (d) clients’ pretreatment target complaints and problem descriptions suggested three essential, interrelated aspects of the within-family alliance: family members (a) agreeing on the problem(s) and goals for treatment, (b) feeling connected in coping with their concerns (“a felt unity”), and (c) seeing conjoint therapy as valuable. Within-family disagreements on any of these aspects seemed to account for the observed in-session struggles. The analysis also suggested several missed opportunities for strengthening the within-family alliance.