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Family Therapy An Overview Quizlet
Theoretical approaches in family therapy
FAMILY THERAPY THEORY Psychodynamic Counseling
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In The Family Crucible, the authors provide a unique approach to family therapy. In reading the text, skillful therapists worked with a seriously dysfunctional family (Brice). The therapists motivated this family to embark on a journey that would eventually allow them to help themselves. An interesting technique used with the family that I choose is termination. The therapists made it very clear that the family can drop out of therapy at any time. It is their responsibility to continue or not to continue. During the termination phase David and Carolyn's marriage became "alive" and they work "individually" but "together" when conflicts erupt . The couple stops being each other therapists by taking responsibility for their own growth increased …show more content…
The experiential family therapy is very much a product of the existential–humanistic tradition. Whitaker defines the healthy family as “a three to four generational whole that is longitudinally integrated - maintaining a separation of the generations”. However, Whitaker looked to spontaneity as a marker of healthy communication in families. The healthy family allows each member to admit to problems and to identify competencies. The therapists insisted that the entire Brice family be present in therapy. The symbolic-experiential treatment model considered it crucial to begin the treatment process with the entire family. Whitaker, C. A. (1982) has emphasized that "Our demand to have the whole family in is the beginning of our 'battle for structure.' It begins with the first phone call"(p. 204). In the early part of treatment, the co-therapists battle for structure and they were directive. They used silence, confrontation and other anxiety-building techniques to unbalance the system. They acted as catalysts, which picked up on the unspoken and discovered the undercurrents represented by the family's typical communication patterns. In the mid-phase, the therapist functioned as stress activators, growth expanders, and creativity stimulators. In addition, Self-disclosure, creative play, teaching stories, spontaneous interpersonal messages, the use of metaphor, and the sharing of parts of the therapists' lives that reflect a working through in their own living are used generously. As therapy proceeded, the therapists took increasingly smaller roles, as they sat back and watched, respecting the independent functioning of the
According to Napier and Whitaker (1978), In the Brice family, many problems were resolved since they decided to go on to therapy; however, the main problem that the therapists have not been able to solve was to convince the
Experiential Family Therapy is a therapy that encourages patients to address subconscious issues through actions, and role playing. It is a treatment that is used for a group of people in order to determine the source of problem in the family (Gurman and Kniskern, 2014). Experiential Family Therapy has its strengths and weaknesses. One of the strengths of this therapy is that, it focuses on the present and patients are able to express their emotions on what is happening to them presently. The client will have time to share everything about his/her life experiences one on one without any fears. As a result, it helps the client in the healing process because, he/she is able to express their feelings freely and come out of the problem. Therefore, in this type of therapy, the clients are deeply involved in solving their issues. It helps clients to scrutinize their individual connections and to initiate a self-discovery through therapy, on how their relationships influence their current behaviors (Gurman and Kniskern, 2014). By examining their personal relationships through experiential family therapy, family members are able to
I was drawn into the Brice family's story and by the end of the book I cared about them and felt as if I knew them. I appreciated the author's no holds barred, realistic portrayal of the therapist and client relationship. Not only is the reader drawn into the subject's inner world, the reader is also pulled into the world of the therapist and given a ring side seat into the cognitive operation of the therapist mind. Napier and Whitaker lay out the theories that inform their practice. For example, they identify, feedback spirals, triangulation, transference, and enmeshed identities, for the reader and then demonstrate through the narrative, methods for assisting families in leaping over these
The concept of Structural family therapy is how the therapist “view the family as a system structured according to set patterns and rules that govern family interactions” (2003, Gehart & Tuttle, p. 23). The therapist goal is to interact with the clients during the therapy session to obtain an understanding of the reported problem. This process will allow the therapist to assist the clients with changing their structure. Strategic family therapy concept is to attempt to address a specific problem of the family in a shorter timeframe than other therapeutic services. Both approaches strive to assist the clients with overcoming their family issues, however views the structure of the family differently. For example, structural approach works with the family by identifying the problems and improving the behavior with and strategic therapy works with changing the client behavior to improve the problem.
2). My integrative approach is built on postmodern narrative therapy, but also includes techniques and definitions based on family systems and experiential theories to help clients understand their own family narratives. My desire is to use any technique that will help individuals create a preferred positive future. In this paper I expound upon my personal integrative approach to working with individuals, couples, or families in therapy. I share my theory of how problems develop, how client change is facilitated, my role as therapist and goals for therapy based on post-modern and person-centered principles. I then describe the techniques I am comfortable using, and those that do not appeal to me, and end by explaining my views on power, gender, and multiculturalism in
Patterson, J., Williams, L., Edwards, T. M., Chamow, L., & Grauf-Grounds, C. (2009). Essential skills in family therapy from the first interview to termination (2 ed.). New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
My theoretical approach to family therapy is very integrative as I believe families cannot be described nor treated from a single-school approach. I view humans through a humanistic and existential lens but am more technically structural and solution-based. With this integrative approach, I believe I will be the most effective in helping families grow and reach their goals.
There are certain lessons that I picked from the book, The Family Crucible, which can be put as simply as being an intense experience of a family therapist. The book looks into the ways that this therapy can find practical applications and tells a tale of a unique way in which this family therapy was used. Though the reflection that I have gathered up in my mind started in the face of how family ties, and blood relations are not honored and loved with the deserving intensity that they should have been, and how this unique way in which this family therapy can be applied in life.
Individual therapy is concerned with enhancing positive feelings of an individual such as self-esteem, compassion, love, peace, and courage. On the other hand, family therapy focuses on the relationship between members of a family and how they interact with one other. It is also worth acknowledging that although individual and family therapy modalities are distinct, the two are co-dependent because individuals and families are inseparable. Therefore, it is possible to integrate the two theories so that each can benefit from the other.
The stories “Eveline” by James Joyce, “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell and “A Good Man is hard to Find” by, Flannery O’Conner they share a similar theme ‘Family’. The main characters in each story show different traits of how the family function in each story: that is, how the role of the family determine the decisions the characters make. Are the families functional or dysfunctional, and what qualities account for the success or failure of these family units, and also how does the author affirm conventional ideas about how members of families should behave.
Structural family therapist have exemplified within the context relational therapies that uncovers stressors in relationship between individuals (Vetere, 2001). Structural family therapy has been known to be called “interventive approach” because of the “intensity” to encourage clients to change (Hammond & Nichols, 2014).
How can a simple six letter word be so complicated to define? Family is a single word that is open to many interpretations depending on the individual. If you try to condense this ideal to a single clinical definition you end up excluding numerous members of society. What comes to mind when you think of the word family? While in the most broken down and literal sense, family means a relative with a blood or legal bond, the word family can encompass blood relations, adoptions, and even intentional relationships such as friendships. Economies, cultures, and backgrounds can further differentiate what one’s perception of a family is. For many people, including me, a family is so much more. It is the amount of commitment, cohesiveness, and importance
Nichols, M. P. (2011). The essentials of family therapy. Boston, Ma.: Allyn and Bacon. (Original work published 5th)
Everyone seems to define family differently, however, the significance of family is the same. For you, family means everything. You can always count on your parents and siblings for help and love. Family is very valuable and important to you and should never be taken for granted. No one can deny that family is the foundation of our generation. A family is where we all start our life journey and helps us grow to be successful throughout our lives.
There are so many different types of family relationships. Whatever form a family takes; it is an important part of everyone’s life. My family has played an important role in my life. Good family relationships serve as a foundation to interactions with others. Supportive families will help children to thrive. The quality of the family relationship is more important than the size of the family. Making the relationships priority, communication, and providing support for one another is key to developing relationships. Family relationships are what make up our world today; they shape the ways that we see things and the ways that we do things.