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Key concepts of strategic family therapy
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Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) is a family therapy intervention mainly for children and adolescents between the ages of 6 to 18 years. The therapy is meant for children who exhibit behavioral problems but not limited to substance abuse, bullying, truancy, and other youth high-risk factors. The fundamental assumption of this theory is that the essentials for adaptive family interactions can play a central role in protecting children from negative influences. And that many maladaptive family interactions do play a role and can contribute to the evolution of behavior problems in young children and adolescents. BSFT approach was influenced by Jay Haley and Madanes. Jay Haley was also known to be a pioneer in family therapy. Before brief
Structural therapy focuses on the family as a whole. It is concerned about how the issues effect the family relationships and connections. This theory concentrates on how well the understanding is amongst the family members and counselor. The members of the family are prompted to understand how the issues were created, where did the issues come from, when the issues started effecting their family, and what the family needs to overcome their issues. Its focus is to help others understand and improve negative behavior. The structural therapy concentrates on the interaction and boundaries of families with separating the whole family into smaller groups. The subsystems will create a clearer understanding of what issues are hurting their family environment (Gladding, S. T. 2010). The counselor is concerned about the members interaction because this reveals how strong the relationships and connections are in the home. The boundaries are important because they create an understanding that there are limits and order, and the boundaries can be diffused, rigid, or clear (Gladding, S. T. 2010). The counselor is expected to identify techniques so members can understand which boundaries are clear, positive, and healthy (Gladding, S. T. 2010).
The BSFT is a cost-effective, evidence-based, process-oriented, and family-focused intervention program. Developed by researchers led by Szapocznik, the program works with children and adolescents between 6 and 17 years who are susceptible in developing or already display negative behavioral habits. The program was intended ...
Patterson, J., Williams, L., Edwards, T. M., Chamow, L., Grauf-Grounds, C. (2009). Essential skills in family therapy (2nd Ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Geraldine has become disrespectful at school. She often talks back to her teachers and gets in fights with other students. School is another caregiving system of Geraldine’s. Since going through this traumatic event, Geraldine feels easily attacked and is very guarded. She is often getting in trouble. It can be hard for a teacher to understand why a student is acting a certain way. Geraldine’s teacher was recently informed of the event, which has helps when dealing with Geraldine’s behaviors. Geraldine’s behaviors also contribute to the core concept of “children can exhibit wide range of reactions to trauma and loss” (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 2018). Geraldine’s behaviors have completely changed since the death of her mother. Geraldine is on edge and often scared something will happen to her or her sister. She has a lack of interest in school and often acts out when other peer confront her. This shows traumatic can affect each individual differently. Although, at home Geraldine seems reserved and spaced out, she is very aggressive in school. Relating Geraldine’s needs to these core concepts help the social worker implement the best treatment. Geraldine and her family would benefit from home base services since Geraldine’s grandmother does not drive. Geraldine would also benefit from individual therapy as
Nichols, M.P. & Schwartz, R.C. (2004). Family therapy: Concepts and methods (6th ed.). Pearson Education Inc. US
The counselor’s role with the family and client is to stay professional at all times and make sure the counselor does not agree or disagree with her client. The counselor is there to help the family as one and not her client. Murdock (2013) states “The role of the counselor in Structural Family Therapy is that of expert. The therapist joins the family, but maintains a stance as a leader in the counseling process.” (pg.,426) Therefore, the role of the counselor is to stay present and professional at all times. According to All Psychology Careers “The strategic therapist becomes actively involved and responsible in helping clients turn their lives around, in helping them strategically plan, execute, and measure game winning outcomes” So, the counselor role is to help the family be structure.
Family: Marcus is a 5 year old African American male who resides in Plainfield with is his biological mother Adrienne Mitchell and his four siblings. Youth have challenges with impulse control. Marcus is easily distracted and has trouble staying focus for a long period of time. When Marcus does not get his way in the home he has a temper tantrum. Mrs. Mitchell gives youth her cell phone to plays games on to prevent him from having a temper tantrum in the home. Marcus expects to play games on his mother’s cell phone all the time and he will whiny and cry if he not able to play a game on caregiver cell phone. Marcus will also become argumentative when Mrs. Mitchell redirect him or gives him a directive. Mrs. Mitchell has to frequently redirect Marcus to keep him on task. Mrs. Mitchell is very supportive and loving to youth. At times Marcus behavior in the home can be overwhelming for Mrs. Mitchell. Mrs. Laboy, in-home therapist from Supportive Therapeutic Counseling provide Mrs. Mitchell with behavioral modification techniques to apply in the home. The
The immediate issue of the Jones family is the sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. If working with the Jones family, one will need to start by having the family convey the presenting problem. The Jones family, specifically the mother needs to come to a realization that she is abusing her daughter in multiple ways. This can be done by helping the Jones identify and understand that the abuse is the present issue that needs to be removed in order for therapy to progress. A possible influential therapy that could help remove the presenting problem could be a narrative approach. As a therapist, one could have the family narrate their life before the abuse in order to see the presenting problem as separate and that it is something the family needs
The Bowens Therapy can be used for individuals, families and couples here that they talk through and not to their partner, with its long-term therapeutic approach. By learning how to gain the ability, to separate their feelings, and thoughts both internally and externally is the main focus of this therapy. Bowen therapy is complete when the family members are about to achieve their level of differentiation (M.U.S.E).
All of the family members were present for the sixth meeting including Janice, Leon, Beatrice, Kat, and Guy. The family was introduced to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT was defined to the family and each family member was encouraged to practice using DBT skills in their daily lives. In addition the family was made aware of the benefits of using DBT. The family was in agreeance that the individual goals of Kat would be the focus of the session.
Nichols, M. P. (2010). Family therapy concepts and methods (9 ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
London: Sage Publications, Ltd. Szapocznik, J., Schwartz, J. S., Muir, A. J., & Brown, H, C. (2012). Brief Strategic Family Therapy: An Intervention to Reduce Adolescent Risk Behaviour. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 1(2), 134-145.
family resource centers work with the students by providing programs in developing self-esteem, conflict resolution, and behavioral management and work with the families by providing parenting skills training. The strategies of the Family Resource Center programs have produced increased attendance rates, reduced truancy rates, reduced dropout rates, and reduced disciplinary problems. Research-based training in parenting skills and techniques which are successful in helping destructive adolescents develop self-control and focus is provided by The family school resource
According to Monica McGoldrick, “A genogram should always be part of a more general process of joining, assessing and helping a family (McGoldrick, 1999).” Although I feel it really should depend of the presenting issues of the family, there is a great deal of merit to its use. Genograms allow for the “Tracking [of] critical events and changes on family functioning allows us to notice anniversary reactions,” or most importantly in Jared’s case “systemic connected between seeming coincidences…its resources and vulnerability to future stresses…” (McGoldrick, 1999). Simply making mental notes while Jared’s aunt was speaking, and eventually putting those notes to paper, both Kassi, his intake counselor and I, realized the issues surrounding Jared’s unbecoming behavior began five years ago. Five years ago can be interpreted as time full of change, difficult change, for Jared. It was around this time that his aunt had moved into the household and the torch that symbolized his parenting moved from his grandmother to his aunt. His aunt moved in because not only was her father sick, but her mother could no longer take care of her husband because she also became sick. She was
There are multiple factors involved in the case of Sophia. While I believe that the some members of the family would benefit from family counseling, I would definitely provide services to Sophia because she may be able to benefit from it most, thereby improving some of the relationship issues that are present in her family at the moment. One of the first things that should be addressed is Sophia’s feeling of inadequacy as a parent. She views herself as a failure for things that have happened in the past. While she does not regret Nick as a son, there is a lot of regret surrounding having him at a young age because she feels that he would not have behavioral problems if he had grown up in a two-parent household for the first few years of his