Summit Malibu’s
Brief Strategic Family Therapy

Summit Malibu recognizes that addiction is a family disease and that effective treatment includes identifying and addressing family dynamics that nurture and sustain addiction. Harmful dynamics can exist within all constellations of a family e.g. couples only, blended families.

The basis for family treatment at Summit Malibu is Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT). This intervention was developed at the University of Miami's Family Studies Program. BSFT is a family intervention specifically designed to assist families coping with addiction. While BSFT has been empirically proven to be effective with adolescents and their families, the clinicians at Summit Malibu have experienced tremendous success with families of all ages.

BSFT is an intervention that identifies restrictive family interactions and introduces self-sustaining changes to the family system.  BSFT corrects over or under-involvement in each other’s lives; promotes family connectedness and a family’s ability to resolve conflict successfully.  The techniques implemented in BSFT reduce negative interactions replacing them with positive interactions. This shift in family dynamics supports sustained recovery for the addicted person and a greater sense of contentment for other family members.

Family Therapy is an important part of treatment. Weekly family sessions are recommended for all clients if logistically possible, as well as participation in a Family Weekend. The Summit Family Weekend is scheduled approximately one time monthly. It commences on a Friday afternoon, lasting through to Sunday at noon. It is critical that all family members are motivated to participate in this event since it will help tremendously with our clients’ transition home at the conclusion of their treatment.