Contextual Theory

Question 1

What is the goal of Contextual therapy?

Answer 1

for each family member -there is action leading to a balance of self validation and fair accountability

• for clients to free themselves from invisible loyalties that damage the well being of the family
• clients take responsibility for their own behavior
• reclaim disowned parts of themselves
• overcome irrational guilt
• make amends for their actions

Question 2

What are the 4 essential domains of Nagy’s theory?

Answer 2

Facts, psychology, transactions, and relational ethics

Question 3

term: these include the attributes that people are born with - gender, identity, birth defects…

Answer 3

Facts

Question 4

term: refers to what happens within the person- fantasies, thoughts, emotions, meanings

Answer 4

Psychology

Question 5

term: the patterns of family organization- hierarchy, triangles, transactional sequence

Answer 5

Transactions

Question 6

term: people are ethically responsible for the effect of their behavior on others

Answer 6

Relational ethics

Question 7

term: derives from a combination of internalized expectation, injunctions and obligations in relation to ones family of origin

Answer 7

Loyalty

Question 8

What happens when parents lack caring and responsibility?

Answer 8

Children are denied their just entitlement and trustworthiness deteriorates and symptoms develop

Question 9

What type of entitlement do children gain if a parent is abusive, manipulates and/or makes threats?

Answer 9

destructive entitlement

Question 10

term: is required to act as a caretaker to his/her parents and then as an adult, he/she might have unreasonable expectations for love and nurture from a spouse and may do this to his/her own children
- can operate on a behavioral level or an internal level

Answer 10

parentification

Question 11

term: generational perpetuation of destructive entitlement in which one generation damages the next innocent generation

Answer 11

revolving slate of injustice

Question 12

What types of assessments are used for contextual therapy?

Answer 12

• family resources
• genograms
• verbal reports

Question 13

What is the role of the therapist?

Answer 13

to not pathologize the family; use multidirectional partiality; an advocate for each person in the extended family; not impartial or neutral; an active guide; balances his/her partiality toward each family member; serves as a conduit to resources

Question 14

How did Nagy de-parentify? 2 stages

Answer 14

1. parents begin to attribute “parental “ significance to the therapist and pressure on the child to fill this role diminishes
2. addressing the spectrum of family dynamics; outlines signs of progress

Question 15

term: the process by which the balance is regained and trust resotred

Answer 15

exoneration

Question 16

term: cedit for contributing to the well being of another

Answer 16

merit