Family and Group Therapies

Question 1

General systems theory holds that all systems consist of interacting components, governed by the same general rules, and have this mechanism to help maintain stability.

Answer 1

homeostatic mechanisms

Question 2

In cybernetic theory, ______ resist change, and ______ amplify change and disrupt the status quo.

Answer 2

Negative feedback loops; positive feedback loops

Question 3

According to Bateson’s communication theory, interactions can be ______ or _______. Problems happen when you have too much of one or the other.

Answer 3

Symmetrical interactions (a behavior elicits similar behavior) or complementary interactions (inequality where one behavior compliments another).

Question 4

Bowen’s extended family systems therapy (intergenerational family therapy) holds that transmision of emotional processes from generation to generation is responsible for pathology, which includes four types of family functioning:

Answer 4

1. Differentiation
2. Emotional triangles
3. Family projection process
4. Multigenerational transmission process

Question 5

In Bowen’s extended family systems therapy, this term refers to when a family dyad under tension uses a third family member to alleviate that tension.

Answer 5

Triangulation

Question 6

In Bowen’s extended family systems therapy, this term refers to when parents project their emotional immaturity onto their children, causing the children to have lower levels of differentiation.

Answer 6

Family projection process

Question 7

In Bowen’s extended family systems therapy, this term refers to when a person is able to separate their functioning from the functioning of others.

Answer 7

Differentiation

Question 8

The goal of Bowen’s extended family therapy is to increase the _______ in each family member.

Answer 8

Differentiation

Question 9

In assessing family functioning, Bowen’s extended family therapy will create a _________ which depicts relationships and important events.

Answer 9

Genogram

Question 10

Minuchin’s structural family therapy is based on the assumption that symptoms are related to problems with _______.

Answer 10

family structure

Question 11

Minuchin’s structural family therapy looks at two major aspects of family structure. They are:

Answer 11

1. Subsystems - smaller groups in the family

2. Boundaries - implicit and explicit rules that govern the amount of contact each person has

Question 12

Minuchin (structural family therapy) identified four rigid family triads:

Answer 12

1. Stable coalition - inflexible parent/child alliance against another parent
2. Unstable coalition - each parent wants child to side with them
3. Detouring-attack coalition - parents’ problems are blamed on the child
4. Detouring-support coalition - parents avoid their problems by overprotecting the child

Question 13

In Minuchin’s structural family therapy, there are three, overlapping phases. They are…

Answer 13

1. Joining
2. Evaluation of family structure
3. The therapist restructures the family using several interventions

Question 14

The restructuring phase of Minuchin’s structural family therapy includes several different interventions, which include:

Answer 14

1. REFRAMING a problem behavior more constructively
2. UNBALANCING family structure to increase the power of certain members
3. BOUNDARY MAKING to alter the proximity between family members
4. ENACTMENT to role-play problem interactions to gain information and act in an alternate fashion

Question 15

Haley’s strategic family therapy assumes that family problems are based on struggles for ______ and ______, resulting from inappropriate family hierarchies.

Answer 15

power; control

Question 16

Haley’s strategic family therapy focuses on four stages in the initial session(s):

Answer 16

1. social stage - observing the family interactions
2. problem stage - eliciting each person’s perspective of the problem
3. Interactional stage - family members discuss their views of the problem
4. Goal-setting stage - therapist helps the family agree on the definition of the problem and concrete goals.

Question 17

Haley’s strategic family therapy often uses paradoxical directives such as:

Answer 17

1. Prescribing the symptoms
2. RESTRAINING from change
3. Making people perform an ORDEAL whenever they do a problem behavior.

Question 18

Milan systemic family therapy is based on the assumption that the families protect themselves from change through _____ rules and patterns of behavior.

Answer 18

homeostatic

Question 19

Milan family systems therapists will use several types of strategies.

Answer 19

1. Circular questioning
2. Positive connotation - reframing the symptom as a way of maintaining cohesion.
3. Family rituals
4. Neutrality
5. Hypothesizing

Question 20

Narrative Family therapy’s goal is to replace…

Answer 20

…problem-saturated stories with stories that support more satisfying and preferred outcomes.

Question 21

Exclusion criteria for group therapy

Answer 21

1. Actively suicidal
2. delusional and likely to incorporate the group into delusions
3. aggressive towards other group members
4. Antisocial (unless in a diagnostically homogeneous group)

Question 22

Recommended group size:

Answer 22

7-10 people

Question 23

Closed groups are associated with greater _________.

Answer 23

Group cohesion

Question 24

Formative stages of group therapy are:

Answer 24

1. Norming (Initial orientation, hesitant participation, search for meaning, and dependency phase)
2. Storming (Conflict, dominance, and rebellion stage)
3. Reforming (development of cohesiveness stage)

Question 25

Of the 11 therapeutic factors responsible for the effects of group therapy, the strongest predictor of positive outcome is:

Answer 25

Group cohesiveness