There are three prominent models of Strategic Family Therapy, through the Mental Research Institute, the teachings of Jay Haley and Cloé Madanes, and the Milan Systemic Model as posited by Mara Selvini Palazzoli, Gianfranco Cecchin, Luigi Boscolo, and Giuliana Prata.
"[1] Haley and Madanes focused heavily on the function of the symptoms presented on how they affect the family system.
Family attempts to solve and decrease these symptoms can further perpetuate the issues if they are not successful.
In other words, the system created by the family must be changed, or solutions for behavioral problems may not hold.
Quoting Richard Niolon: "There are three models for problem development: a. cybernetic (runaway positive feedback loops) b. structural (flawed family hierarchies) c. functional (one member develops symptoms to control others) The MRI use only the cybernetic model, Haley and Madanes use all 3 but Haley stresses the structural and Madanes the functional, and the Milan's use both structural and functional.