theory: experiential family therapy Flashcards
Experiential Family Counseling
A counseling model that is less concerned with techniques and more concerned with establishing a genuine relationship with clients and helping them bring their problems into the here and now
symbolic-experiential family therapy
A family therapy approach developed by Carl Whitaker to help families strike a balance between independence and togetherness and to learn how to interact with each other in a meaningful and natural way, while moving away from the tendency to behave in the same monotonous patterns that led to the dysfunction.
Carl Whitaker
Developed symbolic-experiential family therapy
human validation process model
Approach developed by Virginia Satir that views symptoms as ways to preserve the family’s homeostasis and as obstructions to growth. Thus, these blockages must be unclogged to allow development to occur. Satir strove to create a welcoming environment in which families will feel comfortable exploring their issues and beginning the process of change
Virginia Satir
An American psychotherapist who believed in the innate goodness of humans, their desire to grow and learn, and their ability to change. Satir identified four types of dysfunctional communication patterns that family members often adopt: (a) Placaters agree with and try to please everyone; they also mollify people, are unsure of themselves, and often lack self-confidence. (b) Blamers are critical of other people, charge others with wrongdoing, and fail to take any responsibility for their actions. (c) Intellectualizers or superreasonables approach situations in a detached manner, rationalizing everything and never allowing their emotions to be shown. (d) Distracters want to avoid dealing with situations, so they distract others by introducing unrelated, irrelevant topics. Satir worked with family members to replace these toxic styles of communication with a more health-enhancing one, the congruent communicator.
four types of dysfunctional communication patterns in Satir’s theory:
placate, blamer, intellectualizer, distracter
family sculpting
A technique used to help the counselor and family fully understand one family member’s impression of family relationships.
