605. A Family Systems Approach to Assessment w/ Dr. Krista Brittain

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In today’s episode, I speak with Dr. Krista Brittain about integrating family systems theory and therapeutic assessment into clinical practice. We explore how viewing children and adolescents within their broader systemic context moves clinicians beyond static diagnostic categories and into a deeper understanding of dynamic family interactions. Krista breaks down the four distinct family system prototypes introduced by Dr. Steve Finn: the Scapegoated Child, Sick Child, Orphan Child, and Solomon’s Child. Throughout our discussion, we examine how these prototypes help clinicians manage countertransference, navigate parent shame, and select tailored assessment tools, including consensus tasks and parent measures. Krista also shares a compelling clinical case illustrating how systemic therapeutic assessment can reframe client narratives, guide feedback, and unlock meaningful change for struggling families.

Main Topics

01:29: Defining therapeutic assessment and the transactional model of child and parent development

07:52: The four family system prototypes in therapeutic assessment

11:37: Reframing narrative identity and mentalizing parents through testing data

25:59: Applying levels of feedback to dynamic family systems

33:29: Selecting assessment measures and intervention sessions for systemic evaluation

47:27: Comprehensive case study of a gifted, adopted adolescent navigating systemic shifts

01:04:23: Formulating clinical recommendations tailored to family prototypes

Resources

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