Family & Group Therapies Flashcards
Family Therapies
most approaches to family therapy have roots in what 3 theoretical frameworks?
general systems theory
cybernetic theory
communication theory
Family Therapies
3 assumptions of general systems theory
all systems:
* consist of interacting components
* are governed by the same general rules
* have homeostatic mechanisms that help them maintain a state of stability & equilibrium
Family Therapies
describe basic tenets of Cybernetic Theory
concerned with the mechanisms that regulate a system’s functioning and distinguishes between negative & positive feedback loops
Family Therapies
describe negative feedback loops
Cybernetic Theory
these loops resist change and help a system maintian the status quo
Family Therapies
describe positive feedback loops
Cybernetic Theory
these loops amplify change & disrupt the status quo
Family Therapies
describe the assumption of Communication Theory and describe when problems occur according to this perspective
certain types of repetitive patterns of communication and interaction produce problematic behavior
problems occur in families when interactions between family members are exclusively symmetrical or complementary
Family Therapies
Bateson (1972) linked the development of schizophrenia to double-bind communication. What is double-bind communication?
Communication Theory
when a person receives two contradictory messages from a family member & is not allowed to comment on the contradiction
Family Therapies
Bateson (1972) distinguished bewteen symmetrical and complementary interactions - define these terms
symmetrical interactions: reflect equality & occur when the behavior of 1 person elicits a similar type of behavior from the other person
complementary interactions: reflect inequality & occur when the behavior of 1 person complements the behavior of the other person
Family Therapies
these types of interactions can escalate in intensity and become a one-upmanship game
symmetrical
Family Therapies
these types of interactions can be described as 1 person in dominant role & 1 person in subordinate role
complementary
Family Therapies
recent approaches to family therapy are influenced by postmodernism, which challenges the basic premises of general systems theory - describe the basic premises of postmodernism
there are universal laws that govern systems & these laws can be discovered by scientific research
Family Therapies
list 2 perspectives adopted by postmodernism approaches and describe their assumption(s)
constructivist & social constructionism
assume there are multiple viewpoints & realities
Family Therapies
this process is associated with postmodernism approaches to family therapy and refers to forming a collaborative relationship with the family & helping family members identify alternative ways of interpreting and resolving problems
shared process
Family Therapies
list 9 family therapies
- Extended Family Systems Therapy
- Structural Family Therapy
- Strategic Family Therapy
- Milan Systemic Family Therapy
- Conjoint Family Therapy
- Narrative Family Therapy
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy
- Functional Family Therapy
- Multisystemic Therapy
Extended Family Systems Therapy
- developed by who
- theoretical assumption(s)
- primary goal
aka Intergenerational & Transgenerational Family Therapy
- Bowen
- views families as emotional units where changes in 1 person affect the whole family; thus, differentiation in 1 family member facilitates greater differentiation in other family members
- to increase each family member’s differentiation
Extended Family Systems Therapy
Bowen derived his approach from work with children with schizophrenia and their families, which led to what conclusion re: the etiology of schizophrenia?
transmission of certain emotional processes from one generation to the next is responsible for the development of schizophrenia in a fmaily member
Extended Family Systems Therapy
- concepts
- interventions
- concepts
* Differentiation
* Emotional Triangles
* Family Projection Process
* Multigenerational Transmission Process - interventions
* 3 generation enograms
* questions designed to difuse emotions & help family members identify how they contribute to family problems
* teach family members how to interact with their families-of-origin in ways that increase differentiation
Family & Group Therapies
differentiation, emotional triangles, family projection process, & multigenerational transmission process are all concepts of which family therapy
extended family therapy
Extended Family Systems Therapy
purpose of genograms
to help family members understand intergenerational patterns of functioning
Extended Family Systems Therapy
role of the therapist
- coach
- stay connected with family members but remain neutral to avoid becoming involved in the family’s emotional processes
- family members talk directly to therapist rather than to each other - reduces emotional reactivity in session
Extended Family Systems Therapy
how many family members do Bowenian therapists see at one time and typically who are these family members?
2; typically the parents
OR
the individual family member who is most capable of increasing their level of differentiation
Extended Family Systems Therapy
define differentiation
(intrapersonal) the degree at which each family member is able to separate their own emotional & intellectual functioning (e.g., separating thinking from feeling)
(interpersonal) which then makes it possible for them to separate their functioning from the functioning of other family members
Extended Family Systems Therapy
according to Bowen, a person with a low level of differentiation will become ____ with other family members
emotionally fused
Extended Family Systems Therapy
an extended family systems therapy concept that occurs when a family dyad experiencing tension recruits a 3rd family member
emotional triangles
Extended Family Systems Therapy
describe the purpose of emotional triangles according to Bowen’s extended family systems therapy
alleviate the tension between the family dyad & increases stability
Extended Family Systems Therapy
according to Bowen, when does the likelihood of emotional triangles increase
as the levels of differentiation of family members decreases
Extended Family Systems Therapy
this extended family systems therapy concept refers to the parents’ projection of their emotional immaturity onto their children
Family Projection Process
Extended Family Systems Therapy
expected impact of Bowen’s family projection process concept on children
lower levels of differentiation
Extended Family Systems Therapy
this extended family systems therapy concept is an extension of the family projection process & refers to the transmission of emotional maturity from one generation to the next
Multigenerational Transmission Process
Extended Family Systems Therapy
which family member is the most likely to be impacted by Bowen’s Multigenerational Transmission Process and how?
- the child most involved in the family’s emotional system
- they become the least differentiated family member
Extended Family Systems Therapy
according to Bowen, if the Multigeneratoinal Transmission Process continues over many generations, what is the outcome?
the development of severe psychiatric symptoms in a child
Extended Family Systems Therapy
according to Bowen, how does the multigenerational transmission process impact adults
adults typically choose a spouse or partner who has a smiliar level of differentiation & the couple then transmits an even lower level of differentiation to one of its children
Structural Family Therapy
- developed by who
- theoretical assumption(s)
- Munichin
- family member’s symptoms are related to problems in the family structure
Structural Family Therapy
according to Munichin, what are 2 important aspects of a family’s structure
- subsystems
- boundaries
Structural Family Therapy
a structural family therapy concept that refers to smaller units of the entire system that are responsible for carrying out specific tasks. For example, the members of the family that are responsible for caring for the children
subsystem
Structural Family Therapy
according to Munichin, boundaries differ in terms of what? and exist on a what?
- degree of permeability
- continuum
Structural Family Therapy
according to Munichin, overly diffuse boundaries lead to what?
enmeshed relationships
Structural Family Therapy
according to Munichin, overly rigid boundaries that lead to what?
disengaged relationships
Structural Family Therapy
according to Munichin, this type of boundaries let family members have close relationships while maintaining a sense of personal identity
clear boundaries
Structural Family Therapy
goals of therapy
- to alleviate current symptoms
- to change the family structure by 1) altering coalitions and 2) creating clear boundaries
Structural Family Therapy
focus of structural family therapy sessions
promoting behavior change (rather than insight)
Structural Family Therapy
match the description with the correct type of rigid family triads: an unstable coalition, a stable coalition, a detouring - support coalition, a detour - attack coalition
1) occurs when parents avoid their conflict by blaming the child for their problems (aka triangulation)
2) occurs when parents overprotect the child to avoid their own problems
3) occurs when each parent separately demands that the child side with them
4) occurs when 1 parent and a child form an inflexible alliance against the other parent
- a detouring - attack coalition
- a detouring - support coalition
- an unstable coalition
- a stable coalition
a practitioner of this type of therapy may say that dysfunctional family structures cause the family to repeatedly respond inappropriately to developmental & situational stress and result in maladaptive behaviors
Structural Family Therapy
Structural Family Therapy
3 phases of therapy
- joining (initial engagement)
- assessment (understanding family dynamics)
- restructuring (intervening to change interaction patterns)
Structural Family Therapy
during this phase of structural family therapy, the therapist works to establish a therapeutic alliance with the family using techniques like mimesis, tracking, & maintenaince
the joining phase
Structural Family Therapy
this structural family therapy technique is typically used during the joining phase and involves adopting the family’s affective, behavioral, & communication style
mimesis
Structural Family Therapy
this structural family therapy technique is typically used during the joining phase and involves adopting the content of the family’s communications
tracking
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Structural Family Therapy
during this phase of structural family therapy, the therapist makes a structural diagnosis, identifies appropriate interventions, and uses techniques such as constructing a family map
evaluation phase
Structural Family Therapy
this structural family therapy technique is typically used in the evaluation phase and involves identifying subsystems, boundaries, and other aspects of the family’s structure
family map
Structural Family Therapy
during this phase of structural family therapy, the therapist focuses on techniques such as reframing, unbalancing, boundary making, and enactment
intervening phase
Structural Family Therapy
this structural family therapy technique is typically used during the intervening phase and involves asking family members to role-play a problematic interaction so the therapist can obtain information about the interaction and then encourage family members to interact in an alternative way
enactment
Structural Family Therapy
this structural family therapy technique is typically used during the intervening phase to alter hierarchical relationships & involves the therapist aligning with a fmaily member whose level of power needs to be increased
unbalancing
Structural Family Therapy
this structural family therapy technique is typically used during the intervening phase and involves relabeling a problematic behavior so it can be viewed in a more contructive way
reframing
Structural Family Therapy
A family therapist described a patient’s depression & anxiety as loneliness. The technique being used by this therapist is referred to as…
reframing