title: Intervening briefly in the family system.
abstract: A brief therapeutic intervention in a family is presented with the use of the Synallactic Collective Image Technique (S.C.I.T.). The technique proves to be a very useful tool for therapeutic intervention along General System Theory lines. The S.C.I.T. makes use of family paintings as a 2nd catalyst (the first one being the therapist) of transaction. Five sessions were held over a period of about one month. The family paintings reflect the successive phases through which the family transaction proceeded: From a dry, unsatisfying, mutually destructive relationship with no hope for co-operation and survival, through a phase of resistance during which each one was able to see his predicament, through a final phase after the 'storm' where the sun rises for the first time and co-operation for fruitful exploration begins. It has been observed that such a brief and intense intervention could lead, with proper handling, to the reactivation of self-leading processes, which generate more functional transaction within the family system.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011386:Projective Techniques; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods; D012419:Runaway Behavior