N. Peseschkian Positive Family Therapy The Family as Therapist Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg N ew York Tokyo
Dr. med. Nossrat Peseschkian Facharzt flir Neuroiogie und Psychiatrie Psychotherapie An den Quellen 1, D-6200 Wiesbaden Title of the Original German Edition: N. Peseschkian, Positive Famiiientherapie 1980 Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt a. M. ISBN -13 :978-3-540-15768-7 e-isbn -13:978-3-642-70680-6 DOl: 10.1007/978-3-642-70680-6 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Peseschkian, Nossrat, 1933 - Positive family therapy. Translation of: Positive Familientherapie. Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Family psychotherapy. I. litle. RC488.5.P4913 1985 616.89'156 85-22177 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically those of translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, broadcasting, reproduction by photocopying machine or similar means, and storage in data banks. Under 54 of the German Copyright Law where copies are made for other than private use a fee is payable to 'Verwertungsgesellschaft Wort' Munich. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1986 The use of registered names, trademarks, etc. in the publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
Preface The author's principal aim is to win over the patient through the development of the "positive" aspects of his psychopathology-a concern the significance of which I have also discovered, especially in schizophrenic therapy. It is in this specific sense that Peseschkian speaks of "positive" psychotherapy. His model is a notable synthesis of psychodynamic and behavior-therapeutic elements, making an essential contribution to unified relationships within psychotherapy. In this way Peseschkian is attempting not to directly confront the patient's resistances. The consultation takes place in a loving way through allusions to poetry, proverbs and oriental fairy tales and myths, to which Peseschkian, as a Persian, has direct access. His ability to offer his patient a great treasure of handed-down wisdom knows no bounds. Anyone who has personally experienced the author's therapeutic enthusiasm and optimism will understand why this method of short psychotherapeutic procedure is highly successful in its effects. Professor Gaetano Benedetti, M. D. Psychiatrische U niverswits-poliklinik, Basel. Switzerland
Contents List of Stories................ A Story for the Positive Process: The Dream Six Theses of Positive Family Therapy Introduction................. 1 2 3 5 Part I. Introduction to the Theory of Positive Family Therapy 1. The Situation in Science, Religion, Education, and Psychotherapy 13 2. What Is "Family Therapy"?.......... 16 3. What Does "Positive Family Therapy" Mean?. 17 4. Guidelines for the Reader........... 20 Part II. Transcultural Psychotherapy (The East-West Concept) 1. Social Changes and the Image of Man............. 2. Practical Aspects of the East-West Concept in Family Therapy 25 36 Part III. From Family Therapy to Positive Family Therapy 1. The Family as Hell.. 2. The Family as Heaven 3. The Family as Fate.. 4. Forms of the Family. 5. The Family Equilibrium 6. Family Therapy: Who Should be Treated? 7. Family or Clinic.......... 51 56 59 63 66 69 73 VII
8. The Development of Family Therapy....... 9. What Does Positive Family Therapy Deal With?. 76 85 Part IV. The Tools of Positive Family Therapy 1. The Three Pillars of Positive Family Therapy 2. The Positive Starting Point......... 3. What is "Positive Family Therapy"?.... 4. The Positive Image of Man - Unity in Diversity 5. The Basic Capabilities in the Literature.... 6. Possibilities for Reinterpretation........ 7. Practical Applications of the "Positive Interpretations" 8. Aids for Changing One's Perspective......... 9. What Are "Concepts"?................ 10. Positive Family Therapy Does Not Remove Anything 11. The Patient as Therapist............... 12. The Positive Procedure in the Therapeutic Process. 95 98 102 104 109 111 114 129 131 133 135 136 Part V. Conflict Contents and Conflict Dynamics 1. Four Forms of Dealing with Conflict and How They Work....... 141 2. The Four Forms of Dealing with Conflict, as Used in Positive Family Therapy..................... 155... 3. The Four Model Dimensions................... 158.. 4. The Four Forms of the Model Dimensions in Positive Family Therapy 172 5. Actual Capabilities............ 176 6. Microtraumas: The So-called Little Things. 183 7. Making Contents Concrete......... 185 8. The Significance of the Actual Capabilities. 187 9. Actual Capabilities as Signs of Transcultural Differences 189 10. Using the Differentiation Analytical Inventory (DAI) 192 11. Actual Conflict and Basic Conflict 198 12. The Three Stages of Interaction............ 201 Part VI. The Five Steps in Positive Family Therapy and How They Operate 1. The Stage of Observation/ Distancing 2. The Stage of Taking Inventory.... 3. The Stage of Situational Encouragement 213 220 224 VIII
4. The Stage of Verbalization....... 5. The Stage of Goal Expansion...... 6. The Strategy of Positive Family Therapy 7. The Relationships between Therapeutic Models 8. Positive Family Therapy: Language and Social Strata 228 231 239 246 250 Part VII. Practice of Positive Family Therapy 1. Concepts and Their Application in Positive Family Therapy 2. Concepts in Therapeutic Work: The Change of Perspective. 3. Stories and Sayings as Aids for Changing One's Perspective 257 260 262 Part VIII. Concepts and Their Effects in Positive Family Therapy 1. Frigidity: The Ability to Say No with One's Body... 2. What Do Stomach Troubles Have to Do with Frugality? 3. My Parents Raised Me Wrong 4. Adiposity......... 5. A Heart Neurosis....... 6. "What Will People Say?"... 7. Literary Concepts: Who is Your Favorite Author?. 267 269 272 278 282 289 293 Part IX. Family Tradition and Identity 1. Traditional Neurosis........ 2. Hanging onto Concepts or Changing Them 3. The Undecided Generation Conflict 4. Till Death Do You Part 5. The Wrong Way... 6. Delegated Concepts. 7. The Old Prohibition. 8. Dangerous Tea... 9. Can One Hurt Other People?. 10. The Redeemer...... 11. The Concept Family Tree 12. Tradition of Symptoms. 299 301 303 305 307 309 312 314 316 318 319 324 Epilogue...................... Reviews of The Family as Therapist: New Strategies for Positive Family Therapy................ 326 328 IX
Bibliography Subject Index 331 335 x