Theories Flashcards
Major Concepts of Bowen
Major anxiety transmitted from one generation to the other keeps families unstable. Anxiety Differentiation Cutoff & fusion Family projection process Functional level of differentiation Sibling position Triangulation
Thinking valued over feeling. Differentiation about ability to separate thoughts from emotions.
Theory of Dysfunction of Bowen
“The problem is…”
Lack of differentiation causes issues in family members.
Emotional fusion
Increased emotion and anxiety in the family
An upset to fused relationships has destabilized triangles.
Theory of Change for Bowen
Find an intellectual/emotional balance by increasing the ability to distinguish between thinking and feeling (within self and others); then using that [ability] to direct one’s life and solve problems.
Stages of Change of Bowen
Place problem in a multigenerational frame, lowering anxiety, increasing differentiation especially of the marital couples (genogram)
Increasing the parents’ ability to control their own anxiety and fortifying parental emotional functioning by the therapist triangulating with them but staying NEUTRAL
Forming relationships with the dysfunctional member, opening closed ties, and de-triangulation of members
Symptoms focus is AVOIDED
Evaluating progress
Stages of Change of Bowen
Place problem in a multigenerational frame, lowering anxiety, increasing differentiation especially of the marital couples (genogram)
Increasing the parents’ ability to control their own anxiety and fortifying parental emotional functioning by the therapist triangulating with them but staying NEUTRAL
Forming relationships with the dysfunctional member, opening closed ties, and de-triangulation of members
Symptoms focus is AVOIDED
Evaluating progress
Stance of Therapist- Bowen
Objective/neutral
Coach/referee
Methods/Techniques- Bowen
Focus in process, not content Genogram; extensive history taking "I" Position De-triangulate Create therapy triangle Therapy is often long-term
Diagnosis/Assessment- Bowen
Extensive self-report data on family history
Level of differentiation of family members
Degree of cutoff
Level of family anxiety and emotional reactivity
Assess triangles
Major Concepts of Contextual Family Therapy
(Nagy)
Relational ethics: the balance of fairness and Justice determines the quality of life.
Transgenerational transmission of unfairness
Entitlement
Destructive entitlement (passed down generations 》ledger sheet)
Exoneration (parents were also victims)
Ledger
Loyalty and invisible loyalties (internalized expectations)
Parentification (projection of unfinished business)
Relational determinants
- facts
- individual psychology
- behavioral transactions
- relational ethics
Multidirectional partially: testing everyone equally favorite
Theory of Dysfunction (Contextual)
The trustworthiness of relationships breaks down because fairness caring and accountability are absent
Theory of change (Contextual)
A preventative plan for current and future generations
To restore people’s capacity to give through fair relating and trust
Stages of Therapy (Contextual)
Unit of treatment is decided by therapist
Engagement
Focus on cognitive exploration of historic factors that are having an impact on current relationships
Alter perceptions of family and individual
Facilitate problem solving
Encourage family members to increase their options by expanding the trust basis of their own relationships
Therapy is often long term
Stance of therapist (Contextual)
Active, personal engagement
Co-therapy is encouraged
Raise issues of relational balances
Advocate for all within the basic relational context, that is the multi generational extended family, including deceased family members
Methods/ Techniques (Contextual)
Multi directional partiality
Listening
Observing
Responding to unconscious material
Who to see belongs to therapist to decide, based on information given by the family
Couple treatment is not considered a separate modality
Diagnosis/assessment (Contextual)
Family resources are main focus on assessment, seen as potentially self validating
Observations of family relationships includes all 4 dimensions
Assessment is an on going process
The therapist sees the convictions of people as deriving from both the stage of development and the effect of family and other group loyalties
Triangles are assessed
Major Concepts of Object Relations Family Therapy
The interjection of objectified characteristics of early childhood care takers is projected onto intimate partners in adu
• Introjects (what we internalize)
> Internal objects such as mental images of self and others, and self in relation to others built from experiences and expectations
> Negative and positive aspects of the introjected object
- Projection of internalized, repressed Ego object
- Projective identification
Theory of dysfunction (Object Relations Family Therapy)
Negative aspects of repressed, introjected early object (primarily parents) are projected onto the spouse or children
Theory of Change (Object Relations Family Therapy)
Expression of repressed objects
Resolution of negative aspects of repressed objects
Individuation of family members
Detachment and differentiation from the “bad” object
Stages of Therapy (Object Relations Family Therapy)
Engagement Stage Projective Identification Stage Confrontation Stage Termination Therapy is often long term
Stance of Therapist (Object Relations Family Therapy)
Non-directive (think Freud)
Observer
Foster insight and understanding
[3 levels of projection: introjection》identification》integration]
Methods/Techniques (Object Relations Family Therapy)
Listening Observing Responding to unconscious material Interpreting Developing Insight
Diagnosis/Assessment (Object Relations Family Therapy)
Self-report Family of origin history Analyzing the defensive system of the family Degree of family member individuation Analysis of intrapsychic material
Major Concepts of MRI
Vicious cycle.
Ther attempted solution has become the problem
Families establish a pattern of over or under-reacting
Engage in “more of same”
First order change- behavioral vs. Second order change- rules/ belief system
Called “customers”
Major Concepts of MRI (cont’d)
Communication theory
Find the most motivated person in the system
Incorporate cybernetics concept of the pos. feedback loop
Life cycle transition if ind/ family
Problematic behavior is a function of interaction with other people; therefore, the primary determinant of a person’s behavior is other people’s behavior
The clients complaint is the problem- not a symptom of something else
Therapist determines goals
[Double Bind- bound to the field, 2 conflicting messages, receiver cannot comment on messages, emotionally important relationship]
Theory of dysfunction of MRI
Family isn’t able to properly adjust and create positive feedback loss st family life cycle transitions.
Theory of Change of MRI
Change the complementary, interdependent nature of the systems
Change interactional sequence by identifying the “vicious cycle” along with behaviors and perceptions that support it.
[If we get rid of the symptom, the system will self-regulate and become better.
Stages of Therapy of MRI
Intro to the treatment setup
Inquiry and definition of the problem
Estimation of the behaviors maintaining problem
Setting goals for treatment
Selecting and making behavioral interventions
Termination
Short-term therapy
Stance of Therapist of MRI
Active
Clients viewed as customers
Attends to proces more than content.
Team approach
(Team behind a one-way mirror)
- Direct intervention team: they run the show, give directives
-Reflecting team: meta; watch give feedback but don’t talk to each other
Milan Systemic Team: male & female co-therapist interviews therapist and family.
Methods/Techniques of MRI
Find most motivated person Symptom-focused Tasks (in & out) Therapeutic paradox Encourage family members to interact with each other Observe sequence of behaviors Symptom/ problem resolution
Diagnosis/Assessment of MRI
Non-historic
Symptom-focused
Determine sequence of symptom maintaining behaviors
Instances of circular causality
Haley (Strategic)
Hierarchy
Problem solving therapy book
Structured initial interview
- social stage: join the family and create an atmosphere of trust
-
