Synonyms
Introduction
From the late 1960s to the late 1970s, the Milan Associates were housed at the Institute for the Study of the Family in Milan, Italy, and consisted of four individuals: Mara Selvini Palazzoli, the founder of the Institute, Gianfranco Cecchin, Luigi Boscolo, and Giuliana Prata. Greatly influenced by Gregory Bateson and others’ work on systemic communication, they shifted from their psychoanalytic backgrounds to a strategic and systemic approach to treating families with major mental disorders (e.g., schizophrenia). They became one of the most influential training teams in the world, and their advancements in the field led to the development of the Milan Systemic Family Therapy approach. The group amicably disbanded in the late 1970s due to disagreements in theory and practice; many approaches have evolved from their original ideas.
Location
Milan, Italy
Prominent Associated Figures
Mara Selvini Palazzoli
Gianfranco Cecchin
Luigi Boscolo
Giuli...
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References
Bateson, G. (1972). Steps to an ecology of mind. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., Hoffman, L., & Penn, P. (1987). Milan systemic family therapy: Conversations in theory and practice. New York: Basic Books.
Palazzoli, M. S., Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., & Prata, G. (1974). The treatment of children through brief therapy of their parents. Family Process, 13, 429–442.
Palazzoli, M. S., Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., & Prata, G. (1977). Family rituals: A powerful tool in family therapy. Family Process, 16, 445–453.
Palazzoli, M. S., Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., & Prata, G. (1978). A ritualized prescription in family therapy: Odd days and even days. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 4, 3–9.
Selvini-Palazzoli, M., Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., & Prata, G. (1978). Paradox and counterparadox: A new model in the therapy of the family in schizophrenic transaction (tsl., E.V. Burt). New York: Jason Aronson.
Selvini, M. P., Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., & Prata, G. (1980). Hypothesizing-circularity-neutrality: Three guidelines for the conductor of the session. Family Process, 19, 3–12.
Tomm, K. (1984a). One perspective on the Milan systemic approach: Part I. Overview of development, theory and practice. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 10, 113–125.
Tomm, K. (1984b). One perspective on the Milan systemic approach: Part II. Description of session format, interviewing style and interventions. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 10, 253–271.
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Sabey, A., Jensen, J. (2017). Milan Associates. In: Lebow, J., Chambers, A., Breunlin, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_601-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_601-1
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