Creative Solutions to Families in Transition

Abstract

The FIT Project (Families In Transition Project) was developed in collaboration with an AAMFT approved graduate program, an MFT professional group, and family court judges to help family members find ways of coping with the issues facing divorcing couples and their children and the reality of their challenging legal hurdles. With a solution-focused theoretical orientation, the project concentrated specifically on solutions and was designed to work toward multiple options in a minimum amount of time. Both therapists and family members worked collaboratively to understand the issues of family disruption and reorganization as it existed for them at that time. Further, they sought actions together that would help to resolve challenges. Family therapists volunteered to participate in the project and worked with court-ordered families with minimal fees as a service to their community. Results showed that the project had an important effect on participating families. However, therapists faced tough challenges and suggestions are made here to enhance the therapeutic process for MFTs working with court-ordered families.

Key Words:

• Divorce
• court
• solution-focused therapy
• court-ordered therapy
• mandated family therapy