Question

Explain the contribution of the Milan Group to family therapy theory.

Answer 1

Strategic and structural family therapy is influenced by Bateson’s cybernetics model, whose main aim is to change behaviour rather insight and are famous or their creative interventions.

There are three models namely MRI model, Haley and Madanes strategic approach and Milan model.

Milan group followed many of the works of MRI and Haley and Madanes, worked with power struggles and boundaries, and focused on a long time spans spanning even multiple generations. They worked mostly with anorexic and schizophrenic families.

Milan group did not like the concept of “normality”. They believe that families should have clear generational boundaries. They believe that therapy should be neutral, without having an expectation from the family. In this way, the therapy will help the family to examine their family structure by asking questions and also helps them to redesign a better family structure on their own.

There are three models for problem development – Cybernetic, structural and functional model. Milan’s uses both structural and functional model, that helps them to focus on the family’s history and hidden power struggles. And in this way helps them to take appropriate steps accordingly.

Milan’s therapy is responsible for the change. They had to basically manipulate and outwit the family and their strategies designed to expose games and reframe member’s motives.

They always try to keep low resistance and high motivation. They believe that the motivated person in a family is the one to bring change. So they find such a family member and work with them. And that’s the reason why they are the most successful in bringing the change in the family.

Milan’s original model was very strategic. In this, families were treated by a male and female co-therapist and other team members observe the effects of therapy on the families. Families were supposed to visit once a month for 10 sessions. Therapy was supposed to be neutral and distant. Sessions have five parts: Presession, Session, Intersession, Intervention and Post-session. Firstly they make a hypothesis, then test and refine them. After this, the team would meet the therapy while the family waited. The therapy returns to deliver some interventions and finally, the team would analyse the family’s reaction and plan for the next session.