The “Al Quaeda Strategy” in the case of a Depressed Adolescent
Marilyn Wedge
Abstract
This article illustrates how strategic family therapy is a more effective method of treatment for a severely depressed adolescent than hospitalization and medication. The strategy invented in this case: “The Al Queda Strategy” is a variation of the traditional family therapy technique of prescribing the symptom. The therapist assumes that the function of the symptom is primarily protective (Haley, 1976; Madanes, 1981.) The article also illustrates the author’s use of a “strategic question,” although at the time of the therapy the author was not familiar with Nardone’s work, and had been using strategic questions as her own “invariant prescription” with children for many years.
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