Family Therapeutic Analysis

The power of family is such that despite the possible separation of members by vast distances, the family influence remains the same. Even when a family member experiences a temporary or permanent sense of alienation, family membership is never truly renounced (I Goldenberg & H Goldenberg, 2013).
Family systems therapy began during the early 20th century; specifically emerging during the “golden age” in the 1970’s and ‘80s based on the pioneering work of Nathan Ackerman, Virginia Satir, and Salvador Minuchin (Shoai, 2014). Historically, families have been viewed as functioning under systemic patterns. Rather than viewing problems as belonging to the individual, the therapist sees the problem as created and maintained by the family (Shoai,

2014). Because of this, family therapy falls under the umbrella of system theory, which attempts to examine what occurs within and outside the family system. As it relates to family therapy, human behavior is best understood within a relational context. This contextual frame includes not only family relationships, but also overlapping social and cultural systems (Shoai, 2014). By shifting from the pathology of the individual to a social context, family therapists have not minimized the individual but place greater importance on the power of family rules and interactive behavior. Within the foundation of systematic interactions, a variety of models emerge. Each model associated with family therapy is change oriented and considered to be brief in duration (I Goldenberg & H Goldenberg, 2013). Therapy is tailored to strategies and interventions which resolve complaints. Shortly after the complaint is resolved, therapy is terminated.
Family Therapy Models
Two important schools of thought or therapeutic models utilize a structural or strategic approach to families.

Structural approach includes common concepts such as: family rules, roles, and boundaries. In particular, this theory articulates family organization and is accredited to Salvador Minuchin. His theory is foundational to applying system theory to solving relational problems. Minchin began developing structural theory and a set of intervention techniques in response to multiple problems arising from the disconnected and under–organized family. To create change, Minuchin developed therapeutic techniques which addresses change within the family context rather than directed towards the troubled adolescent. Within the context of structural therapy, the individual’s symptom is understood as rooted in the context of family patterns. Change in the family’s organization and structure must take place before the symptom is relieved. In return, the structural therapist must provide directive techniques, which help change the structure or context in which the symptom appears. In addition to these techniques, structural therapists emphasize the wholeness of the family system, the influence of hierarchical organization, and interdependent functioning within subsystems. In particular, Minuchin views families as going through life seeking to maintain homeostasis. Therefore, in order to create change, homeostasis must be

disrupted.
On the other hand, strategic theory offers active therapeutic interventions aimed at reducing or eliminating the presenting problem or behavioral symptom.

The difference between structural and strategic are the way they approach therapy. As mentioned before, structural therapists will seek to change the organization of families in order to relieve symptoms; however, strategic therapists will use techniques aimed at relieving the symptom without emphasis on understanding where the symptom came from. The strategic model derived from the work of the Pal Alto research group, which included seminal ideas from Gregory Bateson, Don Jackson, Jay Haley, John Weakling, and Paul Watzlawich. The strategic approach, defined by Haley and Madanes, defines a presenting problem in a way that can be resolved. Within strategic therapy, the goal is to eliminate a specific problem through a clear set of carefully planned stages. Problems are defined as involving two or more people, allowing for an examination of problematic family structures and dysfunctional behavior. The importance of a strategic intervention is to shift the family's organization so that the presenting problem or symptom no longer serves it function. Change than occurs, not through insight and understanding, but through the process in which the family carries out instructions issued by the therapist (I Goldenberg & H Goldenberg,

2013).