Symbolic Experiential Family Therapy (Whitaker)

Question 1

Battle for structure - should be won by therapist set boundaries and limits for therapy (who attends, time, frequency)

Question 2

Battle for Initiative - should be won by client - therapist should never work harder than client

Question 3

Therapy of the Absurd - used to perturb the system - brutal honest comments

Question 4

therapist’s authentic use of self - very human; personal integrity - stand up for personal beliefs

Question 5

Stimulating mutual growth - therapist and client go together

use of co-therapists

Question 6

Assess Structural organization

Assess Emotional Process

Question 7

Activating Constructive Anxiety - reframe symptoms as efforts toward building competence by focusing on positive attributes of anxiety as means toward growth

Question 8

Affective Confrontation - therapists openly shares her subjective emotional experience working with family

Question 9

Bilateral Pseudo Therapy (discouraged) when family members attempt to play therapist to one another

Question 10

Bilateral Transference - therapist’s intentional maneuver to adapt to language, accent rhythm or posture of family

Question 11

Co-Therapist

used as therapeutic tool, (ground him)

Question 12

Craziness (driven crazy, going crazy or acting crazy)

Question 13

Expanding Distress - process of expanding distress to include each family member (reducing blame and scapegoating)

Question 14

Healthy Family Interaction

healthy - characterized through flexibility and openness to life experiences

Question 15

Fantasy Alternative

discussing problematic situations in fantasy based “What if” terms

Question 16

Flight Toward Health

When family would abruptly stop treatment - positive sign bc no longer needs therapeutic support

Question 17

Individuation

primary goal of growth oriented therapies

Question 18

Person of the Therapist

authenticity of therapist primary factor in effective outcomes