This clinical case example from a Chinese context describes the healing journey through structural family therapy (SFT) of a depressed Chinese father with high functioning autism (HFA). The paper both narrates the experience of a father and his family in facing the relational challenges arising from HFA and explores the contributions of SFT in helping. Identifying the father’s history of loss at the individual and family levels as well as the pattern of family relationships in the family sheds light on directions for treatment. Key treatment principles of SFT and strategies to help depressed adults with HFA let go of anger and losses, both symbolic and real, and reconnect with their families are discussed.
Practitioner points
Structural family therapy (SFT) can assist depressed adults with high functioning autism (HFA) in reconnecting with their spouses and children
Therapists’ trust of family competence and uniqueness, and the artful use of enactment, can facilitate healing for depressed adults with HFA
Therapists’ knowledge of HFA, and their humility and willingness to learn from this clientele, are critical