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Functional Family Therapy

A Phase-Based and Multi-Component Approach to Change

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Clinical Handbook of Assessing and Treating Conduct Problems in Youth

Abstract

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is all about helping youth and families who are in trouble. Central to FFT is the belief this can be accomplished by changing family interactions and improving relationship functioning as the primary vehicle for changing dysfunctional individual behaviors. FFT shares many similarities with other systems approaches; however, FFT offers a comprehensive framework for understanding adolescent behavior problems that is quite unique. This framework provides the context for integrating and linking behavioral and cognitive intervention strategies to the specific familial and ecological characteristics of each family. As such, FFT is also about therapists, about training and supervision, and about treatment and other (educational, judicial, religious, cultural, political, economic, marketing) systems that surround families, therapists, and agencies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA

    James F. Alexander

  2. Oregon Research Institute, Pembroke Pines, USA

    Michael S. Robbins

Authors
  1. James F. Alexander
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  2. Michael S. Robbins
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Royal North Shore Hospital, Health Psychology Unit, University of Technology Sydney, St. Leonards, Sydney, 2065, New South Wales, Australia

    Rachael C. Murrihy

  2. Royal North Shore Hospital, Health Psychology Unit, University of Technology Sydney, St. Leonards, Sydney, 2065, New South Wales, Australia

    Antony D. Kidman

  3. Child Study Center, Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, 24060, Virginia, USA

    Thomas H. Ollendick

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Alexander, J.F., Robbins, M.S. (2011). Functional Family Therapy. In: Murrihy, R., Kidman, A., Ollendick, T. (eds) Clinical Handbook of Assessing and Treating Conduct Problems in Youth. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6297-3_10

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