Family Systems Therapy is represented by a single theory/approach, or by multiple?
It is represented by a variety of theories and approaches, all of which focus on the relational aspects of human problems.
(pg. 433)
Which theorists were most closely related to Family Systems Therapy?
1.
Alfred Adler
- was the first psychologist of the modern era to do family therapy using a systematic approach.
2.
Murray Brown
- one of the original developers of mainstream family therapy. Worked with NIHM, and believed families could be best understoo
It is difficult for Western counselors to adopt what kind of perspective? Why?
Systems" perspective; we are used to the individual culture, heavy autonomy...
(pg. 435)
Describe the Family Systems Perspective...
A family systems perspective holds that individuals are best understood through assessing the interactions between and among family members
(pg. 435)
How are symptoms viewed in a Family Systems Approach?
Symptoms are often viewed as an expression of a set of habits and patterns within a family.
The development & behavior of one family member is inextricably interconnected with others in the family.
(pg. 435)
What is the one central principle agreed upon by family therapy practitioners?
The client is connected to living systems.
Attempts at change are best facilitated by working with and considering the family or set of relationships as a whole.
(pg. 435)
What is a basic assumption of modern Adlerian Family Therapy?
It is that both parents and children become locked in repetitive, negative interactions based on mistaken goals that motivate all parties involved.
(pg. 437-438)
Adlerian therapy starts with ______(hint: relationship) and assessment entails ______ (hint: interactions)
Starts w/ forming a relationship based on mutual respect. Assessment based on the subjective descriptions from family members, and the interactions.
(pg. 438)
Describe Bowen's Multigenerational family therapy
He states that problems manifested in one's current family will not significantly change until relationship patterns in one's family of origin are understood and directly challenged.
His approach operates on the basis that a predictable pattern of interpe
Describe Bowen's concept of Triangulation
Triangulation could easily happen between family members and the therapist. This results in a two against one experience. Multiple examples given in class...
(bff fights w/ hubby, calls long time friend, hubby is pushed out of triangle. They make up, and
Describe Differentiation of Self
It involves both the psychological separation of intellect & emotion, and independence of self from others.
The opposite of a differentiated self is experienced as
emotional reactivity
, which is what happens when others "push your buttons"
(pg. 438-439)
How is Bowen similar to Cognitive Therapists? (hint: using intellect)
Bowen felt that people could learn to use their intellect to respond rationally when they were emotionally reactive
(pg. 439)
Satir began emphasizing what?
Family connection.
(pg. 439)
How was Satir unlike Bowen? (hint: triangle)
Satir could envision a nurturing triad: parents working for the well being of another, and their child.
(pg. 439)
Where did Satir place great importance in her therapy? (hint: communicate, validate)
She placed great emphasis on the importance of communication within family interactions, and the value of therapeutic validation.
(pg. 439)
Satir outlined ___ communication stances that people tended to adopt under stress...
4;
Blaming, Placating, Super Reasonable, and Irrelevant.
Blaming
- is when one shifts responsibility to someone else in an effort to preserve the self.
Placating
is the opposite, taking blame to protect someone else from being held responsible.
Super Reas
What is the
antidote
to the 4 communication stances adopted under stress?
The antidote to these stress communications is congruence, meaning emotional honesty, in which one speaks for themselves, stays grounded/centered, and is able to share what they feel and ask for what is needed.
(pg. 439)
What can be thought of as an "interactive stress dance
communication - particularly the 4 communication stances that are adopted under stress.
(pg. 440)
Whitaker is a pioneer for what therapy?
Symbolic Experiential Family Therapy
(pg. 440)
Whitaker stressed 5 things (hint: first is choice)
Choice, Freedom, Self-Determination, Growth, and Actualization
(pg. 440)
Whitaker was similar to Satir in what way? (hint: relationship)
Whitaker stressed the importance of the relationship between the family and the therapist.
Classic example of man's approach and woman's approach on family therapy (hint: Whitaker and Satir)
Whitaker was more confrontive, while Satir was more nurturing.
(pg. 440)
For Whitaker, in therapy, the goal was not to eliminate anxiety in the family, but...
but to maintain or enhance it so that it would serve as a motivation for change.
(pg. 440)
What was Whitaker's therapeutic technique/strategy? (hint: he was unique in this aspect)
Whitaker did not propose a set of methods; it was intuitive and spontaneous - whatever arose from the therapists' reactions to present situations.
"Using yourself in therapy"
(pg. 440)
What therapy did Minuchin bring forth?
Structural Family Therapy
(pg. 440)
What was the central idea for Minuchin's Structural Family Therapy? (hint: interactions, and structural changes)
The central idea was that an individual's symptoms are best understood from the vantage point of interactional patterns within a family.
Structural changes must occur in a family before an individual's symptoms can be reduced or eliminated.
(pg. 440)
What are the goals of Structural Family Therapy? (hint: two)
The goals of structural family therapy are twofold:
1. reduce symptoms of dysfunction
2. bring about structural change within the system by modifying the family's transactional rules and developing more appropriate boundaries.
Who joined Minuchin in the 70's, and what impact did that make?
Jay Haley; together they created Structural - Strategic approaches, which quickly became the most frequently used therapy.
(pg. 440)
The structural-strategic approach became synonymous with which other approach?
Systems approach: they include joining, boundary setting, unbalancing, reframing, ordeals, paradoxical interventions, and enactments.
(pg. 441)
In the last decade, which 3 theories have entered the family therapy field?
Feminism, Multiculturalism, and Postmodern Social Constructionism.
(pg. 441)
These models (referring to feminism, multicult, etc) are more ______, treating clients as _______.
Collaborative; treating clients as experts in their own lives.
(pg. 441)
Describe First-Order Cybernetics
First-Order Cybernetics views the counselor as an observer who is outside of the system, who can asses what is going on, and can promote change - all without ever becoming a part of the system.
This is common in medical field!
(pg. 441)
Describe Second-Order Cybernetics
Feminist and postmodern models of family therapy are based on this; the family practitioner becomes part of the family system, and just by being present with the family changes it.
Extremely aware of the power they have just by entering into an already es
Who is de Shazer? How did he contribute to the field?
de Shazer developed Solution-Focused Therapy.
Using intervetions like the miracle question, scaling questions, exception questions, and compliments, all helped families create their preferred ways of being.
(pg. 442)
What does it mean for a therapist to take a "decentered position"?
To approach family members with curiosity and interest, and treat them as experts of their own lives.
What is the most influential post-modern approach to therapy?
Narrative therapy; crafted by Michael White and Epston.
(pg. 442)
What is Narrative Therapy?
Narrative Therapy takes the stance that each member of the family has his or her own personal narrative as well as the family narrative. When these stories become problem saturated, neither individual nor families functioned.
Narrative therapists seek to
What was the example given in class regarding Narrative therapy?
The little boy with encopresis.
What is a Genogram? How is it used?
stuff
What is the focus of Family Therapy?
In addition to being short-term (since families want a quick solution to problems), Solution-focused, and action-oriented, family therapy tends to deal with present interactions.
The main focus of family therapy is on "Here-and-Now" interactions.
(pg. 456
What is Fusion?
Fusion is the inability to separate from another person.
Is also the ability to separate cognition from emotion
Is the 1st concept
Complete Fusion leads to ________
codependence
Individualization
is similar to what? (think Freud)
ego strength
Individuation is the 2nd concept
Domestic Violence as an example of the Diad
fighting couple pushes closer together, the other party (officer) gets pushed way out - lash out against them
3rd concept - Nuclear Family Emotional System
Single generations of families have emotional systems. They have descriptors (we are fun loving, we are a serious family)
Triangles are what?
The building block of society and all interactions in life
4th concept - Family projection
Anxious parent leads to anxious child
1st concept is Differentiation
...
5th concept - Emotional Cutoff (hint: get up and go)
(similar to denial)
We Geographically go somewhere else.
In context of relationship you got up and left, you are frozen in time!
Multigenerational Transmission process (6th concept)
patterns in families repeat themselves over time
Embedded in families w/ Nuclear Family Emotional Systems
(EX: dysfunctional woman seeks out dysfunctional man)
3 Types of clients according to de Shazer
1. Customers: ready to work on therapy, will be in a positive relationship with counselor
2. Complainers: describes problem, is not willing to take a role in solution
3. Visitor: Window shoppers, not ready to commit.
Bowen's view on Schizophrenia
8 to 10 generations of downward movement leads to Schizophrenia. Becomes poorly differentiated, and gets lost in their fusion so that they can't tell distinguish their own thoughts
What are
Exception Questions
? (Solution Focused Brief Therapy)
When therapists ask exception questions, they are trying to direct clients to times when the problem did not exist, or when the problem was not as intense.
Clients look out for Exceptions... a time when the problem should have occurred, but didn't.