MRI (Mental Research Institute)

The Mental Research Institute (MRI), founded in 1959 in Palo Alto, California, is a clinical and research organization specializing in brief, strategic psychotherapy. It focuses on understanding how patterns of behavior and communication maintain psychological issues, and it develops specific, practical interventions to modify these patterns. MRI emphasizes the importance of the context and interactions in mental health, often working with clients to identify and change unhelpful routines. Its approach has influenced family therapy, systems thinking, and problem-solving strategies within psychotherapy, promoting rapid, targeted change through collaboration and strategic techniques.