The origins of the Brief Strategic approach date back to the Hellenic tradition (sophist’ rhetoric) and Chinese one (the art of stratagems). These ancient arts were used to solve problems apparently irresolvable by applying suggestive and persuasive technique of communication. The same Alexander the Great was using them to win the battles, consenting to create one of the biggest empires in the history.

In the last century, the strategic model were evolved by:

-         Theory of communication of Gregory Bateson

-         Development of Constructivism and Cybernetic epistemology (Heinz von Foester and Ernst
          von Glasersfeld)

-         Work of Milton Erickson on hypnotic suggestion

The Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto (California) with the greatest researchers (G. Bateson, D. Jackson, P. Watzlawick, J. Weakland) gave the biggest contribution by their work on systematization of theoretic-practical principles of communication and it’s pragmatic and therapeutic aspects.

In the 80.s , the fertile collaboration between Paul Watzlawick and Giorgio Nardone, lead to  innovative development of brief strategic techniques from Palo Alto. Using the rigid procedure of action-research (the kind of empirical-experimental method developed by Kurt Lewin), Nardone and Watzlawick have developed specific protocols of intervention for specific clinical problems (phobias, obsessions, eating disorders, depression, ecc.). The continuous research and clinical practice conducted by Brief Strategic Therapy Center in Arezzo have significantly improved the effectiveness and efficiency of the therapeutic interventions.