History of Evidence-Based Practices: An Interview With José Szapocznik

Abstract

This interview with Dr. Szapocznik reveals the importance of building an intervention on the foundation of empirical evidence and family systems theory. Szapocznik is the director of the Center for Family Studies and professor at the University of Miami. He is a chair of the National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse. Szapocznik is also the founder of brief strategic family therapy (BSFT). BSFT is a family-based model for adolescent problem behaviors, such as conduct problems and substance abuse. Throughout the research on BSFT, Szapocznik has been able to show that BSFT is effective and that it can be used with historically difficult populations. Finally, Szapocznik's research has shown that family approaches to adolescent problems are more efficacious than individual and group models of therapy.