Starting with a compelling experimental referent--the make-believe and fantasy play of children--the author formulates a powerful psychodynamic view of strategic family therapy. Using his background in linguistics and semiotics, he has created a therapy out of the play of parents and their children, together with the therapist, enabling the most painful family issues and intractable problems to be handled. Includes an explicit step-by-step presentation of the theoretical model, the methodology and the specific techniques of diagnostic assessment and intervention, all of which are illustrated by authentic case studies.