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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

Featured Resources

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About Dr. Krista Brittain

Krista Brittain is a psychologist in private practice in the Des Moines, Iowa metro area. She uses a Therapeutic Assessment (TA) approach and is certified in TA with children and adults. Dr. Brittain has a passion for working with neurodivergent individuals as well as neurodiverse families and organizations to create neurodiversity-affirming care and community.

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About Dr. Jeremy Sharp

I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents.

As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids.

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