Introduction to Family Counseling
How do you define family?
What constitutes a family? What are the characteristics of a healthy family?
What are some strategies that you have seen families use to improve relationships? Why do families sometimes resist taking obvious steps toward improvement?
General Concepts
Systems Theory
Functionalism
More than the sum of its parts
How is symptom maintained? Boundaries
Feedback Loops
Structuralism
Negative & Positive
Circular Causality
Family Life Cycle
Beginning
Differentiating from family of origin Negotiating rules
Adolescent
Separation & indvidualization Rules change Marital relationship changes
Infant/ Preschool
Transition to 3 Reorganizing rules Autonomy/ Attachment
Launching
Responsive vs. Reactive Reexamination of career/ marriage
SchoolSchool-age
Postparental
Communication patterns established Retirement Reorganizing Death of spouse Career changes Grandparenthood
Bowen Family Systems
Differentiation of self
Emotional cutoff Fusion
Triangles Family Projection Process
Multigenerational Transmission Process
Bowen contd
The problems of the past are visited in the future Goals of therapy:
Increase differentiation of self DeDe-triangulation
Structural Family Therapy
Family Structure
Hierarchical Reciprocal/ Complementary
Subsystems Boundaries
Manage proximity & hierarchy
Structural Family Therapy
Boundaries
Rigid
Permit little contact outside system Benefits:
Diffuse Few boundaries within system Benefits:
Independence Mastery
Mutual support Warmth Dependence Trouble relating to others
Limitations:
Limitations:
Little warmth, nurture Disengagement
Structural Family Therapy
Family Structure
Rigid Boundary Clear Boundary Diffuse Boundary Coalition Conflict Detouring Involvement Overinvolvement
Structural Family Therapy
Goals
Change structure of family
Altering boundaries Realigning subsystems
Structural Family Therapy
Techniques
Joining Working w/ interaction
Modify interactions
Who talks to whom? When? In what way? Enactments Spontaneous Bx Seq (e.g., interpretation)
Intensity Shaping competence B/w subsystems Focus on subsystem
Boundary making
Unbalancing
Diagnosing
Challenging assumptions
Experiential Family Therapy
Overview
Humanistic & Existential
SelfSelf-awareness SelfSelf-expression SelfSelf-actualization
Development of Problems
Result of suppression of feelings Lack flexibility
Experiential Family Therapy
Goals
Growth
Balance belongingness & individuation Emotional experiencing
Symptom relief
Through selfself-awareness & actualization
Experiential Family Therapy
Techniques
There are no techniques, only people
Family Sculpture
Family Art Therapy
Current
Identified patient Each member
Joint family scribble Family drawing
Future Family puppet interviews
Kinetic Family Drawing
Role Play
Emotion Focused Couples Therapy
Johnson & Greenberg Based on attachment theory Weak attachment conceal emotions use withdrawal, coerciveness, blaming negative interaction patterns Goals of therapy:
Reprocess negative emotional sequences
Narrative Therapy
Stories dont mirror life they shape it.
Narrative Therapy:
Basic Assumptions
All knowledge is constructed Stories shape how we interpret events People have good intentions & want to change People are NOT their problems People are effected by cultural discourses
Narrative Therapy:
Goals of Therapy
Externalization
Separate the person from the problem Find exceptions
Deconstructing problemproblem-saturated stories
CoCo-authoring new stories
Narrative Therapy:
Techniques
Clients tell problemproblem-saturated story Externalizing language Mapping the influence Relative influence questions Reauthoring the whole story Reinforcing the new story
Narrative Therapy:
Examples
Depression made your daughter act this way How does GUILT effect you? What does it say about you that you were able to battle ANGER this way? How much has the problem controlled you this past week & how much have you controlled the problem?
Interviewing a Problem
Example:
What areas of Johnnys life are you causing trouble with? Work? Friends? Do you interfere with his judgment? Opinion of himself? In which areas do you think you have the upper hand? What people in his left have kept free from your influence? How have they managed that? What about Johnny is making a bit of trouble for you? Does anything about Johnny and his family make you nervous?
