The Style of the Family Therapist

Interview to introduce the Challenging Certainties series of Dr. Salvador Minuchin’s Archives. Includes an introduction to the only three remaining tapes of the 1982 Philadelphia ChildGuidance Clinic featuring Carl Whitaker, Virginia Satir, and Dr. Minuchin as they develop their idiosyncratic styles as family therapists. 

An introduction and explanation to one of the three remaining tapes at the 1982 Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic with a family whose boy attempted suicide, seen by Salvador Minuchin the first day and by Carl Whitaker the next day. In Dr. Minuchin’s session he emphasizes
the idea that the issue is not with the symptom bearer, but that the symptom is owned by the family.

An introduction and explanation to one of the three remaining tapes at the 1982 Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic with a family whose boy attempted suicide, seen by Salvador Minuchin the first day and by Carl Whitaker the next day. Whitaker lessens the irrationality of the symptom of the child by saturating the concept of death in conversations.

An introduction and explanation to one of the three remaining tapes at the 1982 Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic with Virginia Satir’s session with two divorced parents mediating the c ustody of their son. Virginia Satir introduces the possibility of harmony between the two families by creating a distance and proximity that is different. 

A dialogue between Salvador Minuchin and Michael White at the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference in 2009. Dr. Minuchin compares and contrasts his pattern of work and ideology with Michael White. 

Final thoughts of the Challenging Certainties series. Dr. Minuchin shares his thoughts on family therapy of the era and
the collaboration that would take place with Carl Whitaker and Virginia Satir, under the idea that their truths were incomplete.