When we have a problem we try to find a solution by choosing among the “coping strategies” that worked in the past and – we assume – might solve the present problem. It’s an automatic response based on associative processes. In some cases it works quite well and the problem is solved. However people requesting psychological support have already tried to solve their problems several times with “attempted solutions”. In most of the cases the attempted solutions have become the problem in itself (Watzlawick, Weakland, and Fisch, 1974). In fact the reiteration of them become a vicious circle of “helpless and worthless” feelings. Our therapy aims to break the vicious circle through specific strategies, apparently simple solutions – which enable the clients to – perceive the problem from a different perspective and solve it in a short period of time (ten sessions).
The Brief Strategic Therapy model
The Brief Strategic Therapy was born formally as Brief Therapy in the early ’70’s from the meeting between the tradition of Brief Systemic-Strategic Therapy of the Mental Research Institute of Palo Alto and the therapy developed by Milton Erickson in the context of the so-called hypnosis without trance. The clinical research and practice carried out within the last twenty five years by the Strategic Therapy Centre of Arezzo directed by Prof Giorgio Nardone, has produced significant achievements in terms of efficacy and effectiveness of specific therapeutic interventions.
