Intergenerational Therapy

Question 1

Intergenerational/Transgenerational Therapy was created by…..

Answer 1

Murray Bowen

Question 2

Can anyone remember any of the eight fiddly little key concepts in this model?

Here’s a hint:

Dif...
Tri...
Multi....
Em...
Nuclear...
Sib...
Societal...

Answer 2

Congratulations, I knew you could remember Nuclear Family Emotional System, good luck on the test. #cramsessionthedaybefore

Differentiation of Self
Triangulation
Multigenerational Transmission Process
Emotional Cutoff
Nuclear Family Emotional System
Family Projection Process
Sibling Position
Societal Emotional Process

Question 3

8 Fiddly Concepts:

Two people bring in a third party to help stabilize their relationship, which is usually really fun for the third party (especially if they’re a child; kids love it)

Answer 3

Triangulation

Question 4

8 Fiddly Concepts:

Born a middle child? Born first? Only child? Lucky you! Make sure you look for all this baggage in your marital relationships.
Love, Bowen

Answer 4

Sibling Position

Question 5

8 Fiddly Concepts:

Describe….Nuclear Family Emotional System

Answer 5

External/Internal stressors come up, and tension appears in the form of ANXIETY. Here are the fun patterns that show up, courtesy of our little friend:

1. Marital Conflict
2. Dysfunction in one spouse
3. Impairment of 1 or more children
4. Emotional distance

Question 6

8 Fiddly Concepts:

I can distinguish my thoughts from my feelings, and myself in relation to, but separate from, others.

Answer 6

Differentiation of Self

Question 7

8 Fiddly Concepts:

Describe….Societal Emotional Process

Answer 7

Society’s impact on family emotional process.

Apply it: How have current events changed the way your family functions?

Question 8

8 Fiddly Concepts:

Describe…Multigenerational Transmission Process

Answer 8

Levels of differentiation are taught (explicitly and implicitly) to younger generations

Apply it: What positive/negative differentiation patterns were passed down by your family?

Question 9

8 Fiddly Concepts:

I have unresolved emotional attachment! I fix this by moving across the country, isolating myself from my family, and avoiding my emotions when I talk to them.

Answer 9

Emotional Cutoff

Question 10

8 Fiddly Concepts:

Describe…Triangulation

Answer 10

Couples bring in a third party to relieve anxiety in the relationship.

What are some examples of how this can show up in a family?

Question 11

8 Fiddly Concepts:

My family’s levels of differentiation have been passed down through the generations. (in other words, who knows how long this shit has been going on?)

Answer 11

Multigenerational Transmission Process

Question 12

8 Fiddly Concepts:

Describe…Sibling Position

Answer 12

Sibling positions within FOO may play out in marital relationships

Apply it: Can you think of a way your sibling position/only child status impacted a current relationship you have?

Question 13

8 Fiddly Concepts:

Oh no, anxiety has entered my family! I’m 1) fighting with my spouse, 2) my child is doing random stuff they don’t normally do, 3) I’m distancing myself emotionally, and 4) my spouse is also acting weird. Help.

Answer 13

Nuclear Family Emotional System

Question 14

8 Fiddly Concepts:

Describe….Differentiation

Answer 14

I can tell my thoughts and feelings apart, and I can experience myself in relation to AND separate from others. I have healthy long-term commitments and have a strong sense of personal identity that is not threatened by change. And I’m resilient too. Am I not amazing?

Question 15

8 Fiddly Concepts:

Current events have impacted my family and how we interact with each other. We’ve been in quarantine for months, are grappling with racism, trying to avoid murder hornets, and are feeling generally helpless and isolated. This is an example of….

Answer 15

Societal Emotional Process

Question 16

8 Fiddly Concepts:

Describe….Emotional Cutoff

Answer 16

Physically or emotionally cutting off from family in order to maintain homeostasis/equilibrium. It takes TWO people to maintain the cutoff.

Question 17

8 Fiddly Concepts:

My child is acting out and we need to fix their behavior. We are taking them to therapy and are really concerned and concentrated on them. We present with a calm marriage but there are issues. Those don’t matter, though. Just fix our kid.

Answer 17

Family Projection Process

Question 18

8 Fiddly Concepts:

Describe…Family Projection Process

Answer 18

Parents projecting anxiety onto one of the children: they are the symptom bearer. They may bring a child in when marriage therapy is what is actually needed.

Question 19

What is the well-known assessment tool this model uses? You might want to tear your hair out trying to organize it.

Answer 19

Genogram!!

Also, when you use it, don’t forget to ask about PATTERNS and PROBLEMS and MENTAL HEALTH and PHYSICAL HEALTH and WORK and SPIRITUALITY and MAJOR INCIDENTS and KEY FIGURES IN FOO and IMPORTANT EVENTS and MARRIAGE HISTORY and DATES and AGES and SIBLING POSITION and SEXUAL HEALTH and….anything else you might thing of. Don’t forget anything.

Question 20

What is a process question?

Answer 20

The goal of this question is to sloooowwwwwww the client down. Get them to start thinking differently.

“When X happens, how to you handle it?”
“Is this something that…”
“What happens when….”

Make ‘em think, ya’ll.

Question 21

What is the I-position?

Answer 21

Speak from “I,” not “you.” Own your feelings and position.

Question 22

Tracking antecedents is when you….

Answer 22

Track the problem while observing what event might have triggered it. When you track 3 generations of family, some patterns and FOO influences might pop up and help you do this.