THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF STRUCTURAL AND STRATEGIC FAMILY THERAPIES: A DELPHI STUDY

Abstract

The present study employed the Delphi procedure to examine the similarities and differences in the theory and practice of structural and strategic family therapy. A three‐phase Delphi questionnaire was sent to a national panel of knowledgeable structural and strategic therapists, who were asked to identify and reach a consensus of opinion about items they thought important to a profile of either structural or strategic family therapy. In addition, questions were devised to examine the Mental Research Institute, MRI, Haley/Madanes, and Milan/Ackerman approaches to strategic family therapy. The final profiles are described and discussed.