Virginia Satir’s Family Camp Experiment: An Intentional Growth Community Still in Process

In 1976, Virginia Satir began Satir Family Camp (SFC) with therapists and their personal families. Initially, it was a context
for the family to experience Satir’s concepts and techniques so that the family system would change along with the therapist.
The training of therapists is no longer a significant part of camp; relationships with self, family, friends, and the community
is now the main focal point. The process and governance of the camp is presented along with a lengthy anecdote of an experiential
family session. These two features—community function and personal/familial growth—inextricably work together to provide a
validating environment that supports desired changes.