Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Therapist Development Center Practice Exam

In Strategic Family Therapy, which of the following is NOT a recognized intervention strategy?

1. Detriangulation

2. Positioning

3. Temporizing

4. Paradoxical Directives

The correct answer is: Detriangulation

In Strategic Family Therapy, a core focus is on addressing patterns of interaction and communication within family systems. Each of the recognized intervention strategies serves to disrupt unproductive cycles and promote healthier dynamics. Detriangulation refers to the process of helping individuals disengage from triangulated relationships, which can often lead to unhealthy dynamics where one person becomes a messenger or intermediary between two others. This strategy is indeed a legitimate intervention in addressing interpersonal conflicts. Positioning involves the therapist aligning with a particular viewpoint or claim made by a family member in a way that paradoxically helps to shift the family dynamics, often making the family members reconsider their perspectives. This is a recognized technique in Strategic Family Therapy, aimed at enhancing the family's ability to embrace change. Temporizing, while more loosely defined in this context, typically refers to a strategy where the therapist gives the family time to process their situation or engages them without pushing for immediate change. However, it is not commonly classified among the core intervention strategies of Strategic Family Therapy. Paradoxical directives are an essential element of Strategic Family Therapy, where therapists might prescribe a symptom or behavior to disrupt the usual response patterns and facilitate change through counterintuitive approaches. This engages family members in a way that encourages them to reconsider their assumptions and