Ch. 12 Experiential Theory

Question 1

absurdity

Answer 1

statements that are half-truths and even silly if followed to a conclusion. Carl Whitaker and symbolic–experiential family therapists often work with families by using absurdities

Question 2

attachment theory

Answer 2

John Bowlby’s theory, which is the underlying basis of emotionally focused therapy and much of experiential family therapy, especially the communication/validation approach of Virginia Satir

Question 3

blamer

Answer 3

according to Virginia Satir, a person who attempts to place blame on others and not take responsibility for what is happening.

Question 4

choreography

Answer 4

a process in which family members are asked to symbolically enact a pattern or a sequence in their relationship to one another. Choreography is similar to mime or a silent movie.

Question 5

communication stance

Answer 5

an experiential family therapy procedure of Virginia Satir’s in which family members are asked to exaggerate the physical positions of their perspective roles in order to help them “level.” See also leveling.

Question 6

communications theory

Answer 6

an approach to working with families that focuses on clarifying verbal and nonverbal transactions among family members. Much communication theory work is incorporated in experiential and strategic family therapy

Question 7

computer or rational analyzer

Answer 7

according to Virginia Satir, a person who interacts only on a cognitive or intellectual level.

Question 8

conjoint family drawing

Answer 8

a procedure in which families are initially given the instruction, “Draw a picture as you see yourself as a family.” Each member of the family makes such a drawing and then shares through discussion the perceptions that emerge.

Question 9

distractor

Answer 9

according to Virginia Satir, a person who relates by saying and doing irrelevant things

Question 10

emotional deadness

Answer 10

a condition that exists when individuals in families either are not aware of or suppress their emotions

Question 11

engagement

Answer 11

the process in which experiential therapists become personally involved with their families through the sharing of feelings, fantasies, and personal stories.

Question 12

experiential symbolic family therapy

Answer 12

the name of the approach (sometimes also known as symbolic experiential therapy) given to Carl Whitaker’s theory of working with families.

Question 13

family life fact chronology

Answer 13

a tool employed in family reconstruction in which the “star” creates a listing of all significant events in his or her life and that of the extended family having an effect on the members of the family.

Question 14

family map

Answer 14

a visual representation of the structure of three generations of the “star’s” family, with adjectives to describe each family member’s personality.

Question 15

family reconstruction

Answer 15

a therapeutic innovation developed by Virginia Satir to help family members discover dysfunctional patterns in their lives stemming from their families of origin

Question 16

guide

Answer 16

a family therapist who helps the star or explorer during family reconstruction to chart a chronological account of family events that includes significant events in the paternal and maternal families and the family of origin.

Question 17

human validation process model

Answer 17

a term now used to describe Virginia Satir’s model of working with families.

Question 18

individual superhero and family shield activity

Answer 18

an activity in which each family member is asked to identify a favorite existing superhero and then is asked to create his or her own personal superhero

Question 19

involvement

Answer 19

a stage in experiential family therapy in which therapists concentrate on helping families try new ways of relating through the use of playfulness, humor, and confrontation

Question 20

leveling

Answer 20

“congruent communication” in which straight, genuine, and real expressions of one’s feelings and wishes are made in an appropriate context.

Question 21

making contact

Answer 21

the first stage in Virginia Satir’s human validation process model, in which attention is focused on each member of the family in an attempt to raise the level of the person’s self-esteem and self-worth.

Question 22

miniature genogram

Answer 22

an exercise where family members are asked to choose one or two miniatures (small collectible items) to represent themselves and each family member and then asked to explain why a specific miniature was chosen.

Question 23

National Institute of Relationship Enhancement

Answer 23

the program in therapy established by Bernard and Louise Guerney.

Question 24

placater

Answer 24

according to Virginia Satir, a person who avoids conflict at the cost of his or her integrity.

Question 25

role playing

Answer 25

procedure in which family members are asked to act as if they were the persons they ideally wanted to be. Members practice a number of behaviors to see which work best. Feedback is given, and corrective actions are taken

Question 26

sculpting

Answer 26

an experiential family therapy technique in which family members are molded during the session into positions symbolizing their actual relationships to each other as seen by one or more members of the family.

Question 27

self-worth

Answer 27

Virginia Satir’s term, which corresponds closely with self-esteem. Satir compared one’s feelings of self-worth to a pot. The fuller the pot, the more a person feels alive and has faith in himself or herself

Question 28

star or explorer

Answer 28

a central character in family reconstruction who maps his or her family of origin in visually representative ways.

Question 29

symbolic drawing of family life space

Answer 29

a projective technique in which the therapist draws a large circle and instructs family members to include within the circle everything that represents the family and to place outside of the circle those people and institutions not part of the family. After this series of drawings, the family is asked to symbolically arrange themselves, through drawing, within a large circle, according to how they relate to one another.

Question 30

wheel or circle of influence

Answer 30

the circle of individuals who have been important to the star or explorer through family reconstruction