Class #3 Contextual Family Therapy

Question 0

Who founded the Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute?

Answer 0

Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy

Class 3 Notes p. 1

Question 1

Who is ther founder of Contextual Therapy?

Answer 1

Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy

Question 2

The I/Thou concept is characterized by:

Answer 2

Openness reciprocity, and a deep sense of personal involvement in “thou”.

Class 3 Notes p. 2

Question 3

Contextual therapy indicates that we do not come into the world as blank slates. Why?

Answer 3

• each of us is connected to our roots - past generations.
• intergenerational concerns are emphasized
• each of us is a byproduct of were we came from.

Class 3 Notes p. 4

Question 4

Why are we loyal to our family of origan?

Answer 4

Because of what we have received from them and/or what they did for us.
Class 3 Notes p.5

Question 5

How do loyalties connect is to our family of origin and previous generations.

Answer 5

They create a bond with our family-of-origin and previous generations.
Class 3 Notes p.4

Question 6

What is the result when persons have experience a high degree of “fairness” in their family of origin.

Answer 6

Their respective ledgers will be balanced.

Class 3 Notes p.5

Question 7

What is a ledger like?

Answer 7

A interpersonal relational account book of what has been given, to what degree, and to whom.

Class 3 Notes p.6
Class #3 handout p. 234

Question 8

What is the result when persons have “Balanced Ledgers”?

Answer 8

They are able to build new relationships on principles that value each person’s welfare, interest, and, needs.

Class 3 Notes p.6

Question 9

What comprises a Family Legacy?

Answer 9

The expectation that children grow up with which are transmitted to them by their family of orgin.

Class 3 Notes p. 6

Question 10

Define “Merit”.

Answer 10

Those actions that one does in consideration of the welfare, interest and needs of others.

Class 3 Notes p. 8

Question 11

What are three benefits of a “Balanced Ledger”?

Answer 11

• Permits couples to build new families that do not have excessive loyalty issues.
• Considers each other’s welfare, interest and needs
• Lead to healthy functional relationships
• Balanced Ledgers formed by fairness and caring permit spouses to acquire merit and collect debt
• They don’t have uncollected debt influencing interactions and transactions

Class 3 notes p. 8

Question 12

What is compromised when only one person’s interest are considered?

Answer 12

Fairness and loyalty

Class #3 Notes p. 9

Question 13

What problems can an unbalanced ledger create?

Answer 13

• unhealthy dysfunctional relationships
• mistrust
• excessive loyalty issues in families
• cause family members to ignore each other’s welfare, interest and needs
• uncollected debt to influence family member’s interactions and transactions.

Class 3 notes p.9

Question 14

When are relationships Trustworthy?

Answer 14

When each person’s interest are taken into consideration.

Class #3 Notes p. 9

Question 15

How can a ledger become unbalanced?

Answer 15

When only one person’s interest are considered.

Class #3 Notes p. 10

Question 16

Define: Entitlement and Indebtedness.

Answer 16

Entitlement - What I’m owed by others
Indebtedness - What I owe to others

Class #3 Notes p.10

Question 17

What is said about Mutuality and Trustworthyness?

Answer 17

It is the fundamental building block of family and social relationships.
Class #3 Notes p. 11

Question 18

What can cause a child to become symptomatic?

Answer 18

When a child is encumbered with unfair debt beyond their years and his/her trust resources are depleted.
Class #3 Notes p.12

Question 19

How can it be determined if a family ledger is in balanced?

Answer 19

When it is negotiated and decided by all family members.

Class #3 Notes p. 10

Question 20

Define Destructive Entitlement.

Answer 20

The experience of not being cared for by one’s parents (being mistreated, neglected, or exploited - emotional or physical abuse).
Class #3 Notes p.12

Question 21

What is the consequence of Destructive Entitlement?

Answer 21

Future relationships are potentially compromised.
Individuals end up trying to, collect uncollected debts from the wrong people.
Class #3 Notes p. 12- 13

Question 22

What is a Revolving Slate?

Answer 22

How patterns are repeated form one generation to the next. They are struggled against but there unconscious binding legacies which prevent avoiding the pattern.
Class #3 Notes p.13

Question 24

Define Split familial Loyalty

Answer 24

When children are placed in the middle of a couple’s conflict and forced to choose.
Class #3 Notes p. 13