Functional Family Therapy

Functional family therapy (FFT) was created by James F. Alexander in 1969 to help troubled youth (ages 10–18) and their families overcome issues related to adolescent delinquency, substance abuse, and violence. It is a brief, intensive, evidence-based family therapy appropriate for youth with behavior problems, ranging from mild to severe and chronic, with delinquency. It is used for the treatment of violent, criminal, behavioral, school, and conduct problems with youth and their families. FFT is based on family systems ideas that families may develop patterns of interacting and getting their needs met that stimulate, increase, and maintain problematic behaviors. Consequently, therapy focuses on changing familial patterns of communication, problem-solving, and the way family members get their emotional needs met. This is done through motivating families ...