The focus of Family therapy is on the family as a unit and how the members relate to one another within the unit. The focus is on roles, interpersonal dynamics and communication between the members.
Structural Family therapy, propounded by Salvador Minuchin, suggests that the life History of a family is a succession of experiments in living. The model focuses on the patterns of interaction within the family which gives clues as to the basic structure and organization of the system. Structure in this context refers t the invisible set of functional demands that organize the way the family interact.
A family operates through repeated transactional patterns that regulate the behaviors of family members. Such patterns describe how, when and to whom family members relate. Families are governed by two general systems of constraint; the generic and the idiosyncratic.
The generic connotes a hierarchal system in which the parents have greater authority over the children. It operates under the notion of reciprocal and complementary functions discerned by labels applied to families indicating their roles and functions.
The idiosyncratic constraint suggest that rules and patterns may evolve but with time the reason for doing things in a particular way maybe lost. The rules and patterns are however retained and become part of the family structure.
Families, according to this model operate under subsystems namely spousal, parental, siblings and extended subsystem whose rule is hierarchical. The model insists in there being appropriate boundary between generations for the proper functioning of the family.
Therapy does not focus on problem solving because symptomatic behavior is viewed as a logical response in the family’s given structure. Changing the structure will help solve the problem and changing the structure maybe the main goal of therapy.
Experiential Family therapy proposed by Virginia Satir, on the other hand operates on the premise that families are balanced rule governed systems. Through the basic components of communication and self esteem, families provide a context for growth and development.
The cornerstone of this model is the primary survival triad. This triad includes the parents and child or children. According to Virginia Satir, each child acquires identity and self esteem to the constructive and destructive interaction characteristic of this triad.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/373541_structural-family-therapy-as-compared-to-experiential-satir-family-therapy#ixzz15CU8cvt3
This is a blog that I educate and express my opinions on some health and mental Health issues. Different therapies used in psychotherapy are also discussed.
Showing posts with label family Therapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family Therapy. Show all posts
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
A Christian perspective of Experiential Family Therapy
Therapists are faced with challenges on what theory to use if they are to help their clients. The challenge for those who identify with the Christian faith is always on identifying a theory that can blend in well with their faith. If a therapist is to be authentic and genuine in the therapeutic approach, then the theory used must align with the therapist’s beliefs. More and more therapists are called to do a work that was previously the domain of the priest in a church setting. Carl Jung saw religion as a “system of healing for the psychic illness”. He saw the therapist role as that of a “priest” dealing with problems which “strictly speaking, belong to the Theologian”.
In his book Man’s search for meaning (1985), Viktor Frankl states that more and more a psychiatrist is approached by patients who confront him with problems that would ideally be handled by a pastor, a rabbi or a priest. They want to know the meaning of life and yet most of them will not agree to be handed over to a clergy. Dr James Beck in his article, the integration of Psychology and Theology: An enterprise out of balance, suggests that “the mental health movement grows because of a relentless demand for its services. As culture disintegrates, individual lives and marriages are crumbling forcing people to seek help”. He rightful argues that the discipline of psychology desperately needs the salt and light that trained Christian practitioners can provide for it.
In this article the writer critiques the experiential theory with a focus on Virginia Satir, in relation to a Christian world view. This critique shall focus on four areas of importance: cosmology (world view), anthropology (the nature and purpose of humans), harmatology (what is wrong with the world or psychopathology) and soteriology (how we experience healing or psychotherapy). It is submitted that experiential theory provides a strong foundation for therapists to understand their clients and enhance the therapeutic process from a theory and model that has strong ingredients and principles that can be molded to fit with Biblical principles.
Read more: http://relijournal.com/christianity/a-christian-perspective-of-experiential-family-therapy/#ixzz0xjmE1yVG
In his book Man’s search for meaning (1985), Viktor Frankl states that more and more a psychiatrist is approached by patients who confront him with problems that would ideally be handled by a pastor, a rabbi or a priest. They want to know the meaning of life and yet most of them will not agree to be handed over to a clergy. Dr James Beck in his article, the integration of Psychology and Theology: An enterprise out of balance, suggests that “the mental health movement grows because of a relentless demand for its services. As culture disintegrates, individual lives and marriages are crumbling forcing people to seek help”. He rightful argues that the discipline of psychology desperately needs the salt and light that trained Christian practitioners can provide for it.
In this article the writer critiques the experiential theory with a focus on Virginia Satir, in relation to a Christian world view. This critique shall focus on four areas of importance: cosmology (world view), anthropology (the nature and purpose of humans), harmatology (what is wrong with the world or psychopathology) and soteriology (how we experience healing or psychotherapy). It is submitted that experiential theory provides a strong foundation for therapists to understand their clients and enhance the therapeutic process from a theory and model that has strong ingredients and principles that can be molded to fit with Biblical principles.
Read more: http://relijournal.com/christianity/a-christian-perspective-of-experiential-family-therapy/#ixzz0xjmE1yVG
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Understanding the Family through the eyes of Structural Family Therapy
Fundamental processes of Structural family therapy include learning and believing in the concept of structure in families.
Structural Family therapy is a model that is mostly associated with its founder and propounder, Salvador Minuchin. It is one of the most researched models and has been successfully applied in difficult families like families with juvenile delinquents, families with someone suffering from an eating disorder, families with a chemically dependant member, families of low social economic status and families with an alcoholic.
Minuchin does not ascribe to the traditional mother/father and children family as the norm. He includes single parenting as well as blended and step families. For Minchin the healthy family builds a spouse subsystem in which each accommodates, nurtures and supports the uniqueness of the other. The model recognizes that families are organisms in a continuous process of change while trying to remain the same.
The model helps people see the patterns, processes and transactions of the family as a system. The model also helps a practitioner have a concrete concept of what should be happening in a family if it is to function properly. It also provides a map of what is wrong in a dysfunctional family.
Basic Concepts
Minuchin’s suggests that the life History of a family is a succession of experiments in living. He sees the family as an integrated whole of a system. The system also has sub-systems because its members belong to other agencies and organizations in the community which affect the family’s basic structure and pattern of organization.
The model focuses on the patterns of interaction within family members which gives clues as to the basic structure and organization of the system. Structure according to Minuchin, refers to the invisible set of functional demands that organizes the way the family interact. It could also be considered as the repetitive, organized and predictable modes of family behaviors that allows us to consider that a family has structure that allows it to function.
A family operates through repeated transactional patterns that regulate the behavior of family members. Such patterns describe how, when and to whom family members relate to. The structure of the family is governed by general systems of constraints, the “generic” constraint and the “ idiosyncratic”.
In the generic system, families have some sort of hierarchical structure according to which parents have greater authority over the children. A notion of the generic structure is the notion of the reciprocal and complementary functions discerned by labels applied to families indicating their roles and the functions. For example one parent will be over efficient while the other is inefficient; a super good child while another child is not as good.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/326456_understanding-the-family-through-the-eyes-of-structural-family-therapy#ixzz0xeFb90YI
Structural Family therapy is a model that is mostly associated with its founder and propounder, Salvador Minuchin. It is one of the most researched models and has been successfully applied in difficult families like families with juvenile delinquents, families with someone suffering from an eating disorder, families with a chemically dependant member, families of low social economic status and families with an alcoholic.
Minuchin does not ascribe to the traditional mother/father and children family as the norm. He includes single parenting as well as blended and step families. For Minchin the healthy family builds a spouse subsystem in which each accommodates, nurtures and supports the uniqueness of the other. The model recognizes that families are organisms in a continuous process of change while trying to remain the same.
The model helps people see the patterns, processes and transactions of the family as a system. The model also helps a practitioner have a concrete concept of what should be happening in a family if it is to function properly. It also provides a map of what is wrong in a dysfunctional family.
Basic Concepts
Minuchin’s suggests that the life History of a family is a succession of experiments in living. He sees the family as an integrated whole of a system. The system also has sub-systems because its members belong to other agencies and organizations in the community which affect the family’s basic structure and pattern of organization.
The model focuses on the patterns of interaction within family members which gives clues as to the basic structure and organization of the system. Structure according to Minuchin, refers to the invisible set of functional demands that organizes the way the family interact. It could also be considered as the repetitive, organized and predictable modes of family behaviors that allows us to consider that a family has structure that allows it to function.
A family operates through repeated transactional patterns that regulate the behavior of family members. Such patterns describe how, when and to whom family members relate to. The structure of the family is governed by general systems of constraints, the “generic” constraint and the “ idiosyncratic”.
In the generic system, families have some sort of hierarchical structure according to which parents have greater authority over the children. A notion of the generic structure is the notion of the reciprocal and complementary functions discerned by labels applied to families indicating their roles and the functions. For example one parent will be over efficient while the other is inefficient; a super good child while another child is not as good.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/326456_understanding-the-family-through-the-eyes-of-structural-family-therapy#ixzz0xeFb90YI
The Concept of Bowen's Family Therapy
Bowen’s family system theory deals with human behavior from a unit, in relation to their emotions.
The theory views the family as a system and based on this analysis describes the complex interactions that exist in any one unit. The way the members are connected and the way they react to one another makes the functioning of family members interdependent. “The emotional inter dependence presumably evolved to promote the cohesiveness and cooperation families require to protect, shelter, and feed their members”.
According to the theory, mental illness are seen as resulting from emotional fusion. This happens when there is an increase in the level of emotions and anxiety in the family. The least differentiated and most isolated child will present the symptoms. The adult acting out will most likely be in a dysfunctional relationship with their spouse.
8 Concepts of Bowen’s theory.
1) Triangles- This is a three person relationship created in a family system. It is considered the building block or molecule of a larger emotional system. A triangle is more stable than a dyad because it can contain more tension without involving another person. This is because the tension tends to shift around three people. An example of a triangle would be a mother, father and a child relationship.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/293438_what-is-the-concept-of-bowen-family-therapy#ixzz0xeDiUt91
The theory views the family as a system and based on this analysis describes the complex interactions that exist in any one unit. The way the members are connected and the way they react to one another makes the functioning of family members interdependent. “The emotional inter dependence presumably evolved to promote the cohesiveness and cooperation families require to protect, shelter, and feed their members”.
According to the theory, mental illness are seen as resulting from emotional fusion. This happens when there is an increase in the level of emotions and anxiety in the family. The least differentiated and most isolated child will present the symptoms. The adult acting out will most likely be in a dysfunctional relationship with their spouse.
8 Concepts of Bowen’s theory.
1) Triangles- This is a three person relationship created in a family system. It is considered the building block or molecule of a larger emotional system. A triangle is more stable than a dyad because it can contain more tension without involving another person. This is because the tension tends to shift around three people. An example of a triangle would be a mother, father and a child relationship.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/293438_what-is-the-concept-of-bowen-family-therapy#ixzz0xeDiUt91
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