Outcome research on the efficacy of brief therapy

Current research involves review of data from all cases seen as part of the Brief Therapy Project, Palo Alto Group, housed at the M.R.I.

 

Director, the Don D. Jackson Archive Purpose: Assemble a comprehensive collection of published and unpublished writings, audio and film recordings of Don D. Jackson, MD, founder and first Director, Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA. Promulgating Jackson's work is a central function of the archive.

Investigate the use of video playback to promote change in brief family therapy

 

I have been investigating the use of video playback in therapy for more than 10 years. Replaying critical transactions from previous sessions, while maintaining a neutral and nonconfrontive therapeutic stance, encourages an atmosphere which is conducive to change. The technique allows family members to re-experience their own interactional patterns in a nonthreatening manner, enabling them to consider the meanings they attach to their family experience in different and productive ways.

 

Gregory Bateson's transcripts

 

Organize and publish the transcripts of Gregory Bateson's Research Projects on Paradoxes in Communication Processes.

The interpersonal theory of Harry Stack Sullivan

 

Most, if not all, models of family therapy have been directly or indirectly influenced by Sullivan's Interpersonal Theory of human behavior. Sullivan taught many of the first generation inventors of family therapy. His work is a rich reservior of seminal ideas that set the stage for most of the cutting edge "new" ideas in the field today. Anyone interested in further discussion of Sullivan e-mail me.  

Back to Top

Selected Books

Ray, W., & Haley, J. (In Press). Defining the Nature of Relationships: The Interactional Therapy of  Don D. Jackson.  Galena, IL: Geist & Russell.

Ray, W. & de Shazer, S. (Eds.), (1998). Evolving Brief Therapies: Essays in Honor of John H. Weakland.Galena, IL: Geist & Russell.

Weakland, J. & Ray, W. (Eds.), (1995). Propagations: Thirty Years of Influence from the Mental Research Institute. NY: Haworth.

Cecchin, G., Lane, G., & Ray, W.(1994). The Cybernetics of Prejudices in the Practice of Psychotherapy. London, UK: Karnac Books (Distributed in U.S. by Brunner/Mazel).

Ray, W., & Keeney, B. (1993). Resource Focused Therapy. London, UK: Karnac Books (Distributed in U.S. by Brunner/Mazel).

Cecchin, G., Lane, G., & Ray, W. (1993). Irriverenza: Una strategia di sopravvivenza per i terapeuti.Milano, Italy: FrancoAngeli.

Cecchin, G., Lane, G., & Ray, W. (1992). Irreverence: A Strategy for Therapists’ Survival. London, UK: Karnac Books (Distributed in U.S. by Brunner/Mazel).

Back to Top

Selected Journal Articles and Chapters

Ray, W. (2001). "Rabid" and "rapid" psychotherapy on the jet propelled couch – Pivotal moments in the evolution of paradoxical prescription. In J. Zeig, (Ed.), Changing Directives: The Strategic Psychotherapy of Jay Haley, pp. 29-41, Phoenix, AZ: Zeig, Tucker & Theisen, Inc.

Cecchin, G., Lane, G., & Ray, W. (2001). Respect in the consulting room: Allowing socially deviant clients to make their own choices, Family Therapy Networker, January/February, 2001, p. 65-69.

Ray, W. (2001). Foreword. In E. Lipchik, Beyond Technique: Emotion-centered Solutions in Brief Therapy, NY, NY: Guilford Press.

Ray, W. (2000). Don D. Jackson – A re-introduction. (Followed by an original article by Don D. Jackson: Brief Psychotherapy), Journal of Systemic Therapies, 19 (2), 1-6, 7-22.

Ray, W. (2000). The Interactional Approaches – A 75-Year Time-Line of Influential Contributors, The Brief Therapy Networker, 1 (2), 7.

Ray, W. (2000). How to "Hear," & "See" from Don D. Jackson’s Interactional perspective, The Brief Therapy Networker, 1 (1), 5-7.

The Intentional use Implication: An unexplored aspect of the M.R.I. Brief Therapy Model (With Van Frusha & David Hale). In W. Ray & S. de Shazer (Eds.), (1998). Evolving Brief Therapies: Essays in Honor of John H.Weakland. Iowa City, IA: Geist & Russell, Ltd.

Brief therapy with a couple in "alcoholic transaction" the Don D. Jackson way. In C. Madanes & W. Crenshaw (Eds.), (In Press). Behind the One Way Mirror: A Casebook of Strategic Therapy. Redding CT: Zeig, Tucker, & Co.

Resource focused therapy with a "poly-substance" abusing young adult (With Bradford P. Keeney & Jeffrey Stormberg). In W. Ray & S. de Shazer & (Eds.), (1998). Evolving Brief Therapies: Essays in Honor of John H. Weakland. Iowa City, IA: Geist & Russell.

The writings of John H. Weakland: A bibliography (With Karin Schlanger). In W. Ray & S. de Shazer & (Eds.), (1998). Evolving Brief Therapies: Essays in Honor of John H. Weakland. Iowa City, IA: Geist & Russell.

Ray, W. (1997). A review of "Teaching & Learning Therapy," by J. Haley. AAMFT Supervision Bulletin, 10 (1);   1 & 7.

Ray, W., & James P. Keim (1997). Tough Teens: Mental Research Institute & Washington Strategic School Approaches. Family Therapy News, 28 (5); 18 & 21.

B ecvar, R., Ray, W., & Becvar, D. (1996). A Modest/ Immodest Proposal: Reciprocal Foster Families.Contemporary Family Therapy, 18 (2); 257-265.

Keeney, B., & Ray, W. (1996). Resource focused therapy. In M. Hoyt (Ed.), Constructive Therapies Volume II. NY: Guilford, pp. 334-346.

Fisch, R., & Ray, W. (1995). On John Weakland. AAMFT Family Therapy News, 26 (5), October, 5.

Ray, W. (1995). Communication theory: A foundation of Marriage and Family Therapy. Res Scholaris, 1 (2),15-17.

Ray, W. (1995). The interactional therapy of Don D. Jackson. In J. Weakland & W. Ray (Eds.), Propagations: Thirty Years of Influence from the Mental Research Institute, pp. 37-70. NY: Haworth.

Cox, R., & Ray, W. (1994a). The role of theory in the treatment of substance abuse. Contemporary Family Therapy, 16;2, 131-144.

Cecchin, G., Lane, G. & Ray, W. (1994b). Influence, Effect, and emerging systems. Journal of Systemic Therapies.

Cecchin, G., Lane, G., & Ray, G. (1993a). Respektlosigkeit. Eine Uberlebensstratgie fur Terapeuten. Heidelberg, Germany: Carl Auer. German translation of Irreverence.

Cecchin, G., Lane, G., & Ray, W. (1993b). From strategizing to non-intervention: Toward irreverence in systemic practice Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 19: 2; 125-136.

Ray, W. (1992a). Our future in the past: Lessons from Don Jackson for family therapy with hospitalized adolescents. Family Therapy, 19:1; 61-72.

Ray, W., & Saxon, W. (1992). The use of nonconfrontive video playback in brief family therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 18: 1; 63-69.

Ray, W. (1991a). Die interaktionale Therapie von Don D. Jackson. Eine Einfuhrung. Zeit Schrift Fur Systemische Therapie,14: 530.

Ray, W. (1991). La terapia interactiva de Don D. Jackson. Sistemas Familiares, 7 (1), Abril, 75-97.

Back to Top

Articles About My Clinical Research

Treadway, D. (2001), Case Commentary, Family Therapy Networker, January/February, pp. 70-71.

Klien-Erickson, Roxanna, (2000). Feature interview about Dr. Ray’s research, publications, & archival work. In The Milton H. Erickson Newsletter, 20 (1), 1 & 21-24.

Kiem, J. (1997). Review of Weakland, J., & Ray, W. "Propagations: Thirty Years of Influence from the Mental Research Institute," NY: Haworth. In Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 23 (4); October, 447-488.

Gale, J. (1996). Review of Cecchin, G., Lane, G., & Ray, W. "The Cybernetics of Prejudices in the Practice of Psychotherapy," London: Karnac Books. In Journal of Marital & Family Therapy. January, pp. 139-140.

Ritterman, M. (1994). A review of W. Ray, and B Keeney, "Resource Focused Therapy." The Milton H. Erickson Foundation Newsletter, 14 (2), 12.

Steinfeld, G. (1994). Letter to the editor describing Dr. Ray's collaboration in theory building with Gianfranco Cecchin, M.D., and Gerry Lane, MSW. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 20 (3), 324-325.

Markowitz, L. (1992). Use of video in marital therapy. An article describing Dr. Ray's use of video playback in marital therapy. Family Therapy Networker, Sept./Oct., 12-13.

Peterson, K. (1992). A video view of problems. An article describing Dr. Ray's use of video playback in brief marital therapy. USA Today, Thursday, February 6, 6D.

Ruben, D. (1992). Lights, camera, catharsis. An article describing Dr. Ray's use of video playback in brief family therapy. New Age Journal, June, 19.

Staff Writer. (1992). Use of video in marital therapy. An article describing Dr. Ray's use of video playback in marital therapy. New Woman Magazine, September.

Staff Writer. (1992). Video for Family Therapy. Delineates Dr. Ray's use of video playback in brief family therapy. Bottom Line News Journal, 13 (2), 15-16.

Workshops & Presentations

I regularly conduct workshops (internationally, nationally and regionally) on a variety of topics related to brief therapy with adolescent substance abuse, brief treatment of ADHD, family violence, as well as a wide range of topics related to marriage and family therapy, and materials from the Don D. Jackson.

Back to Top

Education

Back to Top

Related Links

• Don D. Jackson Archive
• The Milton H. Erickson Foundation
• Gregory Bateson (1st link)
  Gregory Bateson (2nd link)
• AAMFT (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
• The University of Louisiana (Monroe) Marriage & Family Therapy Program

Back to Top