Palo Alto was born to do research

EN : Palo Alto DNA contains research genes. In the “pre-history” of our school there were already Bateson's researches, extremely current in their conceptions.

FR: Palo Alto's DNA contains research genes.
In our school's prehistory there was already Bateson's research, extremely modern in its design.

FR: The MRI continued with an impressive research program:

• research on the "normal family",
• Watzlawick's research on communication and diagnosis in families with Don Jackson,
• the brief therapy center itself, research on families of seafarers,
• research on alcoholism and dynamic families, ...
• Hesperia is a continuation of Bateson's research with psychotic patients.
• They even participated in research regarding double bind symptoms and LSD consumption.

FR: Then MRI continued with impressive research programs:

• the normal family research
• Watzlawick's research on communication and diagnosis in families with Don Jackson
• the Brief therapy center itself, research on families of marines,
• research on alcoholism and family dynamics, …
• even Hesperia continuation of Bateson's research but with psychotic patients.
• They even participated in a research concerning double bind symptoms and LSD intake.

Palo Alto & research

FR: There has also been statistical research, in particular at the CTB.
They had about 75% results with patients and in all settings (but schizophrenia) based on a schedule of up to 10 sessions. The average number of sessions was 7. It was during this time that they also discovered that they had better results when they received several people from the same family or as a couple.

EN: There was also a statistical research, particularly at the Brief therapy center.
Rougly they had 75% results with patients from all contexts (but schizophrenia) based on a 10 sessions frame. The mean number of sessions was 7. They also discovered that they had better results when they received several people from the same family or couple.

IGB & Circe's & research

EN: We did some statistical research at IGB and got some information regarding the relationship between therapist and client and that client's perception of the model. At Circe our research has been mainly conceptual with the model PEARL, PAS0, pEXO, ... In order to train new therapists, coaches, parents, managers to apply the basic model of stopping attempts at acting solutions to different levels.

EN: IGB had done some light statistical research but we had obtained quite a bit of information concerning the relationship between therapist and client and the perception of client's on the model.

At Circe our research has mainly been conceptual with the model's of PEARL, PAS0, PEXO,… ways of instructing new therapists, coaches, parents, managers to apply the basic model of stopping attempted solutions acting at different levels.

CTS (Arezzo) & research

FR: Then there was the research carried out with the CTS in which G Nardone noted the number of sessions and the types of results.

EN: Lately one of the most structured and powerful research programs come from Giorgio Nardone's team (Gianluca can talk to us better than I can), they have permitted to develop powerful protocols for psychopathology.

Palo Alto & the future 

FR: After being shaken up on different occasions, this research allows us today to restore a sense of continuity to our filiation,
to our heritage.

EN: We have been divided for different reasons these last years. Dick Fisch would say “normal, therapists are all divas”… This research will give us a sense of continuity, affiliation, rebuild our community.

FR: With the need for effectiveness and efficient work, we end up with an adequate model and at the same time we need to make ourselves known.

EN: Today our time has come. Complexity is the most challenging of the characteristics of our world. Economy, business, families, couples, the environment. All around there's a need of expertise with systems and with efficacy and efficiency.

EN : As Palo Alto proved itself before its time, many people think that Palo Alto is finished. When in fact the reality is that we never communicated much. A lot of people don't know that we exist and what we do.

FR: Palo Alto was heard about all around, but the ideas weren't understood. As many people have heard the name, they think we are history, but I maintain that our ideas have never been so needed and alive. Sometimes I hear that neuroscience will take the lead. But i had a chance of treating one of the most advance neuroscientist in France and she rejoiced decoding brief therapy with neuroscience. People don't know what we do!

Palo Alto, the CTB and the research

FR: Research is an opportunity to:

• To tighten between us
• learn from each other
• Let us know outside

FR: My hope is that we get back to:

• building together, learning from one another.
• We are capable of displaying incredible emergent qualities as a system.
• We need to be better known and we are worth it.

Palo Alto values

EN: Palo Alto allows us to better understand diversity, and we are moving towards a world where the challenge will be to deal with this diversity

EN: It is also a matter of values, Palo Alto & Bateson's work has always advocated the importance of diversity. We are living in a world where the interration of diversity is the biggest stake. We need to be a working system and use everyone's skill to go past these multiple crises.

Palo Alto, the CTB and research

FR: This program will allow us to communicate on issues such as:

-       Who are the people who call on us?

-       What kinds of problems?

-       How do we respond to it?

-       With what efficiency?

EN: This program will help us communicate about:

• who has benefitted from our services,
• what type of problems we can treat,
• how do we answer to each of these publics and situations
• and what is our efficacy measure and scope.

Palo Alto and the research

EN: It is important to see what can be done
quickly and effectively to help as well:

• Businesses
• Schools
• Families
• People who suffer from mental health

EN: It is important to see what can be done briefly and systematically to help:

• Businesses
• schools,
• families
• and people suffering from mental health.

To re-place all these institutions and make them work.

Palo Alto, the CTB and the research

FR: Today, we have to do more with less. We are able to bring results with less resources.

EN: Today we all have to do more with less. We are capable of delivering more with less.

FR: Research has allowed us to improve relationships between people. It will also allow us to enrich ourselves thanks to this program of the sensitivities of each of us according to his school of origin.

EN: If this research has helped us to arrange relationship between us the Palo Alto people, it can also enrich us through coming together with our different sensibilities coming from different points of view from each school. But we have to remember that we have the same family Bateson, Jackson, Satir; then John, Paul and Dick and Mony, Jean-Jacques, Giorgio, Irene, Wendel, Teresa and the suite… for those of you that are younger…

FR: Why did strategic therapy never conquer the world

EN: Why did brief therapy never conquered the world.
Jim Coyne

Minimalism
Position (too) low
Refusal to sell
Type of therapy displayed
Some glaring errors
----
Minimalistic stance
One down (too down)
Refusing to sell
Type of therapy modeled
Some mistakes

"It is our destiny ?"
Not necessarily… Is it our destiny? Not necessarily…

Maintain your integrity, but adapt.
Adapt yourself while keeping your integrity

Relate with educational
institutions

Encourage & help new generations
Encourage & help new generations

Include a wide variety of people

Bring in a big diversity of people

Collaborate with researchers

Collaborate with researchers

Translate and establish relationships with other diagnostic categories