Book 1, Uncommon Therapy : Chapter 1, Preface & Strategic Therapy Summary and Analysis

In the Preface, the author describes Erickson and his work in the field of psychotherapy. Jay Haley explains that the psychotherapy efforts of Erickson have grown in their popularity since late in Erickson's lifetime. Haley also explains how an important condition changed during Erickson's life. This was the development and introduction into therapies of "family orientation." Here, the individual is viewed within the context of the family, and counseling that takes place often includes aspects that have been most strongly imprinted and influenced by familial dynamics. In fact, it is often the case that the work the clients are in therapy to do is to improve their relations with self and other family members. Chapter 1 is "Strategic Therapy": the clinician is the one who initiates events within the context...