Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is an evidence-based family intervention that has demonstrated efficacy in reducing rates of re-offense and engagement with the justice system among diverse samples, including Hispanic youth and families. Past research (i.e., Flicker et al., 2008) found that Hispanic therapists matched with Hispanic clients in FFT experienced more positive outcomes than their White counterparts. We conducted a qualitative analysis of session notes completed by three Hispanic FFT therapists treating 33 Hispanic families (99 sessions) with positive outcomes. Grounded theory analysis elicited nine codes related to therapist behaviors. Implications regarding administration of FFT with Hispanic families are discussed.
Adames, H. Y., & Chavez-Dueñas, N. Y. (2017). Cultural foundations and interventions in Latino/a mental health: History, theory and within group differences. Routledge.
2.
Alexander, J., & Parsons, B. V. (1982). Functional family therapy. Brooks/Cole Publishing Company. https://doi.org/10.1037/11621-000
3.
AlexanderJ.RobbinsM. (2011). Functional family therapy. In C. M. Rachael, D. K. Antony, & H. O. Thomas (Eds), Clinical handbook of assessing and treating Conduct problems in youth (pp. 245–271). Springer.
4.
AlexanderJ. F.BartonC.SchiaroR. S.ParsonsB. V. (1976). Systems-behavioral intervention with families of delinquents: Therapist characteristics, family behavior, and outcome. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 44(4), 656–664. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.44.4.656.
5.
AlexanderJ. F.ParsonsB. V. (1973). Short-term behavioral intervention with delinquent families: Impact on family process and recidivism. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 81(3), 219–225. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0034537.
6.
Alexander, J. F., Waldron, H. B., Robbins, M. S., & Neeb, A. A. (2013). Functional Family Therapy for adolescent behavior problems. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
7.
Al-MosaiwiM.JohnstoneT. (2018). Linguistic markers of moderate and absolute natural language. Personality and Individual Differences, 134, 119–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.06.004.
8.
ArredondoP.Gallardo-CooperM.Delgado-RomeroE. A.ZapataA. L. (2014). Culturally responsive counseling with Latinas/os. American Counseling Association. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119221609.
9.
BaglivioM. T.JackowskiK.GreenwaldM. A.WolffK. T. (2014). Comparison of multisystemic therapy and functional family therapy effectiveness: A multiyear statewide propensity score matching analysis of juvenile offenders. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 41(9), 1033–1056. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854814543272.
10.
Bámaca-ColbertM. Y.Gonzales-BackenM.HenryC. S.KimP. S.RoblyerM. Z.PlunkettS. W.SandsT. (2018). Family profiles of cohesion and parenting practices and Latino youth adjustment. Family Process, 57(3), 719–736. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12314.
11.
BardenS. M.GreeneJ. H. (2015). An investigation of multicultural counseling competence and multicultural counseling self-efficacy for counselors-in-training. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 37(1), 41–53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-014-9224-1.
12.
BernalG.Domenech RodríguezM. M. (2009). Advances in Latino family research: Cultural adaptations of evidence-based interventions. Family Process, 48(2), 169–178. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2009.01275.x.
13.
CabralR. R.SmithT. B. (2011). Racial/ethnic matching of clients and therapists in mental health services: A meta-analytic review of preferences, perceptions, and outcomes. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58(4), 537–554. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025266.
14.
CardonaB.Softas-NallL. (2010). Family therapy with Latino families: An interview with Patricia Arredondo. The Family Journal, 18(1), 73–77. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480709356543.
15.
CascioM. A.LeeE.VaudrinN.FreedmanD. A. (2019). A team-based approach to open coding: Considerations for creating intercoder consensus. Field Methods, 31(2), 116–130. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X19838237.
16.
CelinskaK. (2015). Effectiveness of functional family therapy for mandated versus non-mandated youth. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 66(4), 17–27. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfcj.12049.
17.
CelinskaK.FurrerS.ChengC. C. (2013). An outcome-based evaluation of functional family therapy for youth with behavioral problems. Journal of Juvenile Justice, 2(2), 23–36. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles/251063.pdf#page=29
18.
ColemanH. L. K.WampoldB. E.CasaliS. L. (1995). Ethnic minorities’ ratings of ethnically similar and European American counselors: A meta-analysis. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 42, 55–64. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.42.1.55.
19.
FlickerS. M.TurnerC. W.WaldronH. B.BrodyJ. L.OzechowskiT. J. (2008a). Ethnic background, therapeutic alliance, and treatment retention in functional family therapy with adolescents who abuse substances. Journal of Family Psychology, 22(1), 167–170. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.22.1.167.
20.
FlickerS. M.WaldronH. B.TurnerC. W.BrodyJ. L.HopsH. (2008b). Ethnic matching and treatment outcome with Hispanic and Anglo substance-abusing adolescents in family therapy. Journal of Family Psychology, 22(3), 439–447. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.22.3.439.
21.
FlückigerC.Del ReA. C.WampoldB. E.HorvathA. O. (2018). The alliance in adult psychotherapy: A meta-analytic synthesis. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 316–340. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000172.
22.
GlaserB. G.StraussA. L. (2017). Discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Routledge.
23.
GrossJ. J. (2015). The extended process model of emotion regulation: elaborations, applications, and future directions. Psychological Inquiry, 26(1), 130–137. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840x.2015.989751.
24.
GrothausT.McAuliffeG.CraigenL. (2012). Infusing cultural competence and advocacy into strength-based counseling. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 51(1), 51–65. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1939.2012.00005.x.
25.
HallG. C. N.IbarakiA. Y.HuangE. R.MartiC. N.SticeE. (2016). A meta-analysis of cultural adaptations of psychological interventions. Behavior Therapy, 47(6), 993–1014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2016.09.005.
26.
HorvathA. O.ReA. C. D.FlückigerC.SymondsD. (2011). Alliance in individual psychotherapy. In NorcrossJ. C. (Ed.), Psychotherapy relationships that work: Evidence-based responsiveness (pp. 25–69). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199737208.003.0002.
27.
HumayunS.HerlitzL.ChesnokovM.DoolanM.LandauS.ScottS. (2017). Randomized controlled trial of functional family therapy for offending and antisocial behavior in UK youth. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58(9), 1023–1032. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12743.
28.
HillC. E.KnoxS.Pinto-CoelhoK. G. (2018). Therapist self-disclosure and immediacy: A qualitative meta-analysis. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 445. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000182.
29.
ImelZ. E.BaldwinS.AtkinsD. C.OwenJ.BaardsethT.WampoldB. E. (2011). Racial/ethnic disparities in therapist effectiveness: A conceptualization and initial study of cultural competence. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58(3), 290–298. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023284.
30.
KivlighanD. M.Jr.HillC. E.GelsoC. J.BaumannE. (2016). Working alliance, real relationship, session quality, and client improvement in psychodynamic psychotherapy: A longitudinal actor partner interdependence model. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63(2), 149–161. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000134
31.
KozinaK.GrabovariN.StefanoJ. D.DrapeauM. (2010). Measuring changes in counselor self-efficacy: Further validation and implications for training and supervision. The Clinical Supervisor, 29(2), 117–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/07325223.2010.517483.
32.
LambertM. J.BarleyD. E. (2001). Research summary on the therapeutic relationship and psychotherapy outcome. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 38(4), 357. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.38.4.357.
33.
MartinD. J.GarskeJ. P.DavisM. K. (2000). Relation of the therapeutic alliance with outcome and other variables: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(3), 438. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.68.3.438.
34.
MartinL.MottetT. P. (2011). The effect of instructor nonverbal immediacy behaviors and feedback sensitivity on Hispanic students’ affective learning outcomes in ninth-grade writing conferences. Communication Education, 60(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/03634523.2010.496868.
35.
OparaI.LardierD. T.MetzgerI.HerreraA.FranklinL.Garcia-ReidP.ReidR. J. (2020). “Bullets have no names”: A qualitative exploration of community trauma among Black and Latinx youth. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 29(8), 2117–2129. https://10.1007/s10826-020-01764-8.
36.
Parra CardonaJ. R.Domenech-RodriguezM.ForgatchM.SullivanC.BybeeD.HoltropK., …, BernalG. (2012). Culturally adapting an evidence-based parenting intervention for Latino immigrants: The need to integrate fidelity and cultural relevance. Family Process, 51(1), 56–72. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2012.01386.x
37.
Pérez-RojasA. E.BrownR.CervantesA.ValenteT.PereiraS. R. (2019). “Alguien abrió la puerta:” The phenomenology of bilingual L atinx clients’ use of Spanish and English in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, 56(2), 241–253. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000224.
38.
Pina, A. A., Polo, A. J., & Huey, S. J. (2019). Evidence-based psychosocial interventions for ethnic minority youth: The 10-year update. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 48(2), 179–202. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2019.1567350
39.
PrassM.EwellA.HillC. E.KivlighanD. M. (2020). Solicited and unsolicited therapist advice in psychodynamic psychotherapy: Is it advised?Counselling Psychology Quarterly, https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2020.1723492.
40.
PriestJ. B.WoodsS. B. (2015). The role of close relationships in the mental and physical health of Latino Americans. Family Relations, 64(2), 319–331. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12110.
41.
RattsM. J.SinghA. A.Nassar-McMillanS.ButlerS. K.McCulloughJ. R. (2016). Multicultural and social justice counseling competencies: Guidelines for the counseling profession. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 44(1), 28–48. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmcd.12035.
42.
RidleyC. R.MollenD.KellyS. M. (2011). Beyond microskills: Toward a model of counseling competence. The Counseling Psychologist, 39(6), 825–864. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000010378440.
43.
RobbinsM. S.AlexanderJ. F.NewellR. M.TurnerC. W. (1996). The immediate effect of reframing on client attitude in family therapy. Journal of Family Psychology, 10(1), 28–34. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.10.1.28.
44.
RobbinsM. S.AlexanderJ. F.TurnerC. W. (2000). Disrupting defensive family interactions in family therapy with delinquent adolescents. Journal of Family Psychology, 14(4), 688–701. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.14.4.688.
45.
RobbinsM. S.AlexanderJ. F.TurnerC. W.HollimonA. (2016). Evolution of functional family therapy as an evidence-based practice for adolescents with disruptive behavior problems. Family Process, 55(3), 543–557. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12230.
46.
RobbinsM. S.TurnerC. W.AlexanderJ. F.PerezG. A. (2003). Alliance and dropout in family therapy for adolescents with behavior problems: Individual and systemic effects. Journal of Family Psychology, 17(4), 534–544. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.17.4.534.
47.
RobbinsM. S.WaldronH. B.TurnerC. W.BrodyJ.HopsH.OzechowskiT. (2018). Evaluating supervision models in functional family therapy: Does adding observation enhance outcomes?Family Process, 58(4), 873–890. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12399.
48.
SextonT.TurnerC. W. (2010). The effectiveness of functional family therapy for youth with behavioral problems in a community practice setting. Journal of Family Psychology, 24(3), 339–348. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019406.
49.
ShteynbergG.ApfelbaumE. P. (2013). The power of shared experience: Simultaneous observation with similar others facilitates social learning. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 4(6), 738–744. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550613479807.
50.
SotoA.SmithT. B.GrinerD.Domenech RodríguezM.BernalG. (2018). Cultural adaptations and therapist multicultural competence: Two meta-analytic reviews. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(11), 1907–1923. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22679.
51.
SteinG. L.CavanaughA.Castro-SchiloL.MejiaY. M.PlunkettS. (2019). Making my family proud: The unique contribution of familism pride to the psychological adjustment of L atinx emerging adults. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 25(2), 188–198. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000223.
52.
TraceyT. J.KokotovicA. M. (1989). Factor structure of the working alliance inventory. Psychological Assessment, 1(3), 207–210. https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.1.3.207.
53.
TurnerC. W.RobbinsM. S.Winokur EarlyK.BlankenshipJ. L.WeaverL. R. (2019). Juvenile justice risk factors and functional family therapy fidelity on felony recidivism. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 46(5), 697–717. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854818813184.
54.
TuttleM.HaskinsN. (2017). “A different way”: The experiences of L atinx parents with school counselors. Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.33043/JSACP.9.2.95-111
55.
WaldronH. B.SlesnickN.BrodyJ. L.TurnerC. W.PetersonT. R. (2001). Treatment outcomes for adolescent substance abuse at 4- and 7-month assessments. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 69(5), 802–813. https://doi.10.1037/0022-006X.69.5.802.
