Therapy for Families Manifesting Manic‐Depressive Behavior

Abstract

This is a companion piece to the article "Some Features of Families with Major Affective Disorders," published in Family Process (25: 325-336, 1986). In addition to the family features mentioned in the first article, the authors report on other features that have come to the fore since then. Subsequently, they deal with the therapeutic problems that derive from all of these features. In particular, they elaborate on how the therapists must (and can) maintain their neutrality in the face of the massive polarizations and extremes of the either/or thinking found in these families. There follows a description of typical phases in the therapeutic process. Finally, therapy with one family is described in detail.