Family Systems Therapy Flashcards
Key concepts
Focus on communication patterns within family, problems likely to be passed down generations, triangles, power coalitions, family of origin dynamics, function vs dysfunction interaction patterns, present more important than past
Basic philosophy
Family viewed from interactive and systemic perspective, clients connected to living system, change in one part results in total change, family provides context for how individual functions
Therapy goals
Help family gain awareness of dysfunctional interaction patterns and develop new ways of interacting
Client therapist relationship
Therapist functions as teacher, coach, model and consultant. Teaches family new ways to detect and solve conflict and about patterns that have been passed through generations.
Techniques
Techniques depend on theoretical orientation of therapist. Include genograms, teaching, asking questions, joining family,tracking sequences, counter transference, family mapping, reframing, restructuring, enactments, setting boundaries. Designed to bring change in short time
Applications
Marital distress, communicating problems within family, power struggles, family crisis,
Multicultural limitations and contributions
+focus on family and community which is valued by many cultures. Networking with extended family is part of the process, greater chance for individual change if family is supportive
-admitting family problems is shameful in some cultures,
Contributions and limitations
+no one is blamed for dysfunction! empowers family. Working with whole unit provides new perspective.
-difficult to involve whole family, resistant members, therapist working on own family issues first is crucial,
View of problematic behaviours
Serve purpose for whole family
Unintentionally maintained
Handed down across generations
Function of family’s inability to operate effectively
Goals of Adlerian family therapy
Unlock mistaken goals and interaction patterns
Emphasis on motivational pattern
Initiate reorientation of family
Multigenerational family therapy goals
End generation to generation transmitted problems by fixing emotional attatchment
Lessen anxiety
Increase levels of individual differentiation
Key concepts of human validation process
Sculpting, nurturing triads, family mapping and chronologies
Experimental family therapy strives to…
Unmask pretence and allow family members to be themselves,
Intensify conflict to encourage change
Facilitate individual autonomy and belonging
Support spontaneity and creativity
Goals of structural family therapy
Modify transactional rules
Develop appropriate boundaries
Create effective hierarchal structure
Structural strategic family therapy is
Short term family therapy with the goals get people to behave differently, and shift family organization so current problem is no longer functional
