Family Systems theory Flashcards
Who conceptualised the Multigenerational Family Therapy and what is it known for?
Murray Bowen
- creator of the family genogram
- shows emotional connections between family members
4 of them
What are the key concepts in Multigenerational Family Therapy?
- Triangles
- Differentiation of self
- Nuclear family emotional process
- Family projection process
Bowen’s MFT
What does Bowen’s approach premises on?
His approach premises on a predictable pattern of interpersonal relationships connecting the functioning of family members across generations
Bowen’s MFT
What is the concept of triangles about?
Identifying triangles help us notice certain patterns of interaction
Coping mechanisms involve interaction patterns which transmit through generations
Bowen’s MFT
What do social workers need to be aware about triangles? And what should social workers do about it?
Triangulation can easily happen between family members and the counsellor when there is tension; hence, Bowen stressed the need for counsellors to be aware of their own family-of-origin
Bowen’s MFT
What is differentiation of self? How does good differentiation look like?
a very distinct separation between intellect and emotion and independence of the self from others
a well-differentiated person can
* set healthy boundaries between their and others’ emotions
* manage their anxiety
* able to accept responsibility for their actions and feelings
* have overall better functioning
Bowen’s MFT
What does poor differentiation of self look like?
Emotional reactivity
“I feel like he shouldn’t have done that to me.”
“If my mum is not ok, I am not ok. I need to save her.”
Who conceptualised Structural Family Therapy?
Salvador Minuchin
What did Minuchin premise his approach on?
- thrust of the issue lies in the systems and dynamics rather than the individual
- every family structure has a family hierarchy, boundaries, roles, issues of power and implicit rules
What is the key concept in Structural Family Therapy?
Patterns of interaction
Minuchin’s SFT
What questions do we ask to examine patterns of interaction?
- Who is in charge?
- Where is the power?
- Who is left out?
- Who is allied with who?
- What are the rules of interaction? (unwritten family rules)
- What types of interactions: Chaotic? Enmeshed? (loose boundaries because client is so open they allow the person come in any time) Disengaged? (rigid boundaries because client is not open to receiving and giving energy) Balanced?
Minuchin’s SFT
What are the goals of Structural Family Therapy?
- reduce symptoms of dysfunction
- change patterns of interaction
- bring about structural change within the system by modifying family rules and developing more appropriate boundaries
Minuchin’s SFT
What is the therapeutic process like for Structural Family Therapy?
- invite the family to re-enact a conflict scene
- “what if i’m gonna give you permission to not be involved with this conflict? give you freedom to participate as a parent“
- invite the family to re-enact in a different way (e.g. change the seating positions, make sure the client speaks with the other member instead of the therapist)
- after the acting, “how is this different from the first scene?”
Who developed Systemic Family Therapy?
Milan Group
What are the key concepts in Systemic Family Therapy?
- Circular questioning
- Co-therapy with a reflecting team behind a one-way mirror
What are the four types of questioning in Family Systems Theory?
- lineal: for cause-and-effect understanding
- circular: for tracking interaction patterns
- strategic: to influence in a specific manner (interventive interviewing)
- reflexive: Facilitative and generative (interventive interviewing)
What kind of intent do lineal and circular questions have?
Orienting intent - to find out more about the client
What kind of intent do strategic and reflexive questions have?
Influencing intent - to influence and facilitate change in client
What are lineal questions? What is the intent and effect of it?
- Clarify sequence of events over time
- intent: investigative, to generate cause-and-effect understanding for interviewer
- effect: conservative
What are examples of lineal questions?
- what is happening? (problem definition question)
- can you tell me more?
- when did this problem start?
- what makes you think there is a problem between you two? (problem explanation question)
What is circular questioning? What is the intent and effect of it?
- clarify the here and now relationships
- intent: exploratory. explore the context and track interaction patterns
- effect: liberating
What are examples of circular questioning?
- When he said this, what is your response? (Behavioural effect question)
- did any member agree or disagree with you on this?
- how is your husband’s perception of your son’s bed-wetting different from yours? (Difference question)
What are strategic questions? What is the intent and effect of it?
- Questions to influence the client or family ‘correctively’
- intent: corrective - influence client in a particular manner by helping them think deeper about the consequences, the kind of outcome they really want and how stuck they are
- effect: constraining
What are some examples of strategic questions?
- What do you think will happen if you continue to engage him when he is already so enraged?
- I wonder if you continue to do this, what is going to happen to your relationship with your son? (leading/confrontation question)
