In Strategic Therapy, what is the essence of symptom prescription?

• A. Eliminating the symptom immediately.
• B. Prescribing the symptom as the only allowed behavior.
• C. Punishing the symptomatic behavior.
• D. Ignoring the symptom.

Answer: (B)

Symptom prescription is a paradoxical intervention in Strategic Therapy. The therapist directs the client or family to carry the symptom out in a very specific, controlled way and, crucially, to treat it as the only acceptable behavior in a defined context for a set period. This reframes the symptom from something mysterious or unstoppable into a deliberate, manageable choice that the system can monitor and control.

By prescribing the symptom as the sole allowed behavior, the therapist reduces resistance and reveals the function the symptom serves within the interaction pattern. The family sees that they can follow a clear rule and maintain the symptom under a plan, which diminishes the feeling of helplessness and opens up space to alter the underlying dynamics. Once the family experiences that they can deliberately manage the symptom, it becomes easier to propose new moves that shift roles and communication, leading toward change.