Human Validation Model Flashcards
Who is the founder of The Human Validation Model?
The Human Validation model was developed by Virginia Satir who trained as a social worker. She is known for enthusiastic belief in human potential and her significant contributions to the development of family therapy.
How does this model view the family?
This model is based on the concept that all people inherently have the resources needed to strive toward positive growth and fulfillment.
According to this model, how do problems develop?
Problems arise when family members take on survival stances that result in using incongruent communication to protect their self-esteem from problematic messages from other family members or family rules.
What is the goal of The Human Validation Model?
The goal of this model is for each family member to move towards positive growth as individuals which will lead to a more nurturing family system.
What is the role of the therapist?
The role of the therapist is to model congruent communication to the family while modeling the highest qualities of self-esteem. In addition, the therapist is to convey warmth, genuineness, and hope to all family members.
Describe: Congruent Communication
Congruent communication is when family members are communicating honest and genuinely with one another. Incongruent communication is when family members have difficulty communicating and expressing their true thoughts and feelings to one another. Family members may use survival stances that serve to shield their true feelings to protect their self-worth against perceived threats. These survival stances include the placater, the blamer, the supperreasonable, and the irrelevant. Problems arise when families use survival stances or incongruent communication with one another. For families to function successfully, they must develop congruent communication where their emotions and feelings can be expressed openly and honestly.
Describe: Healthy Self-esteem
This approach argues that a person’s self-esteem is learned by family of origin experiences. Individuals can receive message of their self-worth from other family members. Problems arise from low self-esteem within the family members which then causes incongruent communication and the use of survival stances. The building of self-esteem will require family members to connect with their own inner resources to validate their self-worth. Increasing family members self-esteem can helps to increase their inner potential and facilitate a nurturing family system.
Describe: Family Rules
Family rules affect the way in which family members communication, behave, and feel. Overt rules are communicated and openly acknowledged within the family. While covert rules, are unspoken followed rules that are known amongst the family. These stated and unstated rules are carried out within the family and play a significant role in how each member perceives themselves as well as interacts with one another. Rules that are more rigid and inflexible can prevent family members from expressing their true feelings which can result in the use of incongruent communication, low self-esteem, and contributes to family pain.
Describe Intervention 1: “I” Statements
After joining with the family, the first intervention that I would use would be “I” statements. Through “I” statements, family members would be able to express their thoughts and feelings, which would help to build and improve their level of congruent communication. I chose this intervention to treat this family because _____. I would begin by instructing family members to use “I” rather than “You,” which implies blame, when expressing their feelings and thoughts with one another. I would have members start “I” statements with them stating, “I feel _______when ______.” For example, … Throughout the therapy process, I would model congruent communication by making sure my words, tone, and body language are genuine and congruent. This intervention will help the family use congruent communication which will clear their emotional blockage, move them towards positive growth, and create a nurturing family system.
Describe Intervention 2: Family Sculpting
The second intervention I would use would be family sculpting. Through this intervention, family members will to identify and gain insight into their dysfunctional communication styles. I chose to use this intervention with this family because… For example, I would start by asking ____ to position her family members. I would then have ___ position themselves amongst her family members. After exercise, I would have each member share their thoughts/feelings about their experience. This intervention will help the family gain insight into their dysfunctional communication style as well as begin having more open and honest communication with one another.
