Minuchin, Structural

Question 1

Structural Family Therapy

Answer 1

Classical
Developed for families
Minuchin

WHO: ENTIRE family, currently.
HOW LONG: Short-term, no limit, usually 10-20 session though

GOALS: Alter, reorganize, restructure - promote problem-solving, ecourage growth.

• Must have functioning spousal subsystem
• Clear boundaries

Goals achieved over series of interventions.

(Trained by Ackerman, father of family therapy)

Systems structured around patters & rules

Subsytems that work independently, with, to the whole.

“Look at family as organism”

Roles, communication styles, interactional styles, covert/overt rules,

Rules are primary - therapist observes in HERE/NOW

Ea. family works to make a more congruent whole by having an effective hierarchical structure.

Question 2

Subsystems

Answer 2

Structural
Minuchin

Units w/in a family system: dyads, triads, etc. Perform certain functions

Question 3

Boundaries

Answer 3

Structural
Minuchin

Hypothetical line that protects family and subsystems - separates subsystems from one another.

Question 4

Rigid Boundary

Answer 4

Structural
Minuchin

Overly rigid boundaries don’t allow outside subsystem engagement - leads to disengagement

Question 5

Diffuse Boundary

Answer 5

Structural
Minuchin

Permeable/fluid contact with other subsystems - can lead to enmeshment

Question 6

Clear Boundary

Answer 6

Structural
Minuchin

Btwn parents/kids: establishes parents as leaders. Allows interaction, supports couple in separate realtionships. Healthy families have clear hierarchical boundaries.

Question 7

Disengaged Systems

Answer 7

Structural

May be independent or isolated.

Question 8

Enmeshed Systems

Answer 8

Structural

Can get affection/nurturance w/in system, but risks autonomy, outside relationships.

Question 9

Complementary

Answer 9

Structural

Balanced relationship - 2 individuals. Not symmetrical but balanced

Question 10

Hierarchy

Answer 10

Structural

Physical structure of a family - determined by rules, boundaries, interactional patterns

Question 11

Intervening

Answer 11

Structural

Therapist’s role - step in/step out to unbalance or raise intensity.

Question 12

Conflict Management

Answer 12

Structural

Family’s capacity to resolve conflict, find solutions

Question 13

Coalitions

Answer 13

Structural

2 family members join - against one or several others

Question 14

Joining & Accommodating

Answer 14

Structrural

Phase 1 of treatment. Establish therapeutic relationship. Adopt the family’s communication pattern and mannerisms to create comfort.

Question 15

Mimesis

Answer 15

Structural

Phase 1 of treatment - joining - when therapist takes on motions, movements, body language to create trusting space.

Question 16

Intensity

Answer 16

Structural

Changing the intensity in session by shifting tone, language, repetition, etc.

Question 17

Planning

Answer 17

Structural

Assessment in Structural - hypothesize about family structure, remain curious about actual structure.

Question 18

Enactments

Answer 18

Structural

Directed by therapist - Family experiments with different ways of behaving. HEre and now.

Question 19

Spontaneous Behavioral Sequences

Answer 19

Structural

Similar to enactment, except not directed by therapist.

Question 20

Challenging Family Assumptions

Answer 20

Structural

Therapist offers different views of what’s going on with the family.

Question 21

Challenging the Symptom

Answer 21

Structural

Therapist offers new way of perceiving the symptom

Question 22

Reframing

Answer 22

Structural & Strategic

Question 23

Affective Intensity

Answer 23

Structural

Increasing the emotional intensity to shift the structure change

Question 24

Shaping Competence

Answer 24

Structural

Changing the direction of interactions - pointing out what they are doing right in order to increase competence.

Question 25

Boundary Making

Answer 25

Structural

Therapist reinforces good boundaries, diffuses inappropriate boundaries, but adapting family’s patterns.

Question 26

Unbalancing

Answer 26

Structural

therapist intentionally sides with one family member to throw off the homeostasis, encourage change.

Question 27

Punctuation

Answer 27

Diff than Milan!

Structural

therapist emphasizes the body language of a client to help them becomre more aware