During the Behavior Change phase of FFT, what is a central focus of the therapist's work?

During the Behavior Change phase of FFT, what is a central focus of the therapist's work?

• A. Ignore conflict and focus only on individual therapy.
• B. Replace parenting with external supervision.
• C. Therapist guides parents in using behavioral interventions to improve family functioning, parenting, and conflict management.
• D. Reduce parental involvement.

Answer: (C)

In the Behavior Change phase, the therapist’s work centers on guiding parents to use behavioral interventions to improve family functioning, parenting, and conflict management. The therapist acts as a coach, helping the family move from talk to action by teaching concrete skills: setting clear expectations, establishing consistent limits and consequences, reinforcing positive behaviors, and equipping everyone with practical communication and problem-solving strategies. Homework and real-world practice are used to reinforce these skills, with ongoing feedback to adjust approaches and strengthen the family’s collaborative ability to manage conflicts. This fits because Functional Family Therapy emphasizes empowering parents as the primary agents of change, focusing on concrete behavioral strategies to alter interaction patterns. It is not about ignoring conflict or focusing only on individual therapy, it does not replace parenting with external supervision, and it does not reduce parental involvement.

In the Behavior Change phase, the therapist’s work centers on guiding parents to use behavioral interventions to improve family functioning, parenting, and conflict management. The therapist acts as a coach, helping the family move from talk to action by teaching concrete skills: setting clear expectations, establishing consistent limits and consequences, reinforcing positive behaviors, and equipping everyone with practical communication and problem-solving strategies. Homework and real-world practice are used to reinforce these skills, with ongoing feedback to adjust approaches and strengthen the family’s collaborative ability to manage conflicts.

This fits because Functional Family Therapy emphasizes empowering parents as the primary agents of change, focusing on concrete behavioral strategies to alter interaction patterns. It is not about ignoring conflict or focusing only on individual therapy, it does not replace parenting with external supervision, and it does not reduce parental involvement.