Evaluating Narrative Family Therapy Using Single-System Research Designs

Abstract

This study assessed the effectiveness of Narrative Therapy in reducing parent/child conflicts. Parents measured their child's progress by counting the frequency of specific behaviors during baseline and intervention phases. The practitioner-researcher used single-case methodology with a treatment package strategy, and the results were evaluated using three multiple baseline designs. Six families were treated using several Narrative Therapy techniques including: externalization, relative influence questioning, identifying unique outcomes and unique ac counts, bringing forth unique redescriptions, facilitating unique circulation, and assigning between-session tasks. Compared to baseline rates, five of six families showed improvements in parent/child conflict, rangingfrom an 88% to a 98% decrease in conflict. Improvements occurred only when Narrative Therapy was applied and were not observed in its absence.