7/28/2019 Introduction to Family Counseling

1/7

Introduction to FamilyIntroduction to Family

CounselingCounseling How do you define family?How do you define family?

What constitutes a family?What constitutes a family?

What are the characteristics of a healthy family?What are the characteristics of a healthy family?

What are some strategies that you have seenWhat are some strategies that you have seenfamilies use to improve relationships?families use to improve relationships?

Why do families sometimes resist taking obviousWhy do families sometimes resist taking obvioussteps toward improvement?steps toward improvement?

General ConceptsGeneral Concepts

Systems TheorySystems Theory More than the sum ofMore than the sum of

its partsits parts

Feedback LoopsFeedback Loops Negative & PositiveNegative & Positive

Circular CausalityCircular Causality

FunctionalismFunctionalism How is symptomHow is symptom

maintained?maintained?

StructuralismStructuralism BoundariesBoundaries

Family Life CycleFamily Life Cycle

BeginningBeginningDifferentiating from family of

origin

Negotiating rules

Infant/ PreschoolInfant/ PreschoolTransition to 3

Reorganizing rules

Autonomy/ Attachment

SchoolSchool--ageageCommunication patterns established

Reorganizing

Career changes

AdolescentAdolescentSeparation & indvidualization

Rules change

Marital relationship changes

LaunchingLaunchingResponsive vs. Reactive

Reexamination of career/ marriage

PostparentalPostparentalRetirement

Death of spouse

Grandparenthood

7/28/2019 Introduction to Family Counseling

2/7

Bowen Family SystemsBowen Family Systems

Differentiation of selfDifferentiation of self

Emotional cutoffEmotional cutoff

FusionFusion

TrianglesTriangles

Family Projection ProcessFamily Projection Process

Multigenerational Transmission ProcessMultigenerational Transmission Process

Bowen contdBowen contd

The problems of the past are visited in theThe problems of the past are visited in the

futurefuture

Goals of therapy:Goals of therapy:

Increase differentiation of selfIncrease differentiation of self

DeDe--triangulationtriangulation

Structural Family TherapyStructural Family Therapy

Family StructureFamily Structure

HierarchicalHierarchical

Reciprocal/ ComplementaryReciprocal/ Complementary

SubsystemsSubsystems

BoundariesBoundaries

Manage proximity & hierarchyManage proximity & hierarchy

7/28/2019 Introduction to Family Counseling

3/7

Structural Family TherapyStructural Family TherapyBoundariesBoundaries

RigidRigid

Permit little contact outsidePermit little contact outsidesystemsystem

Benefits:Benefits: IndependenceIndependence

MasteryMastery

Limitations:Limitations: Little warmth, nurtureLittle warmth, nurture

DisengagementDisengagement

DiffuseDiffuse

Few boundaries withinFew boundaries withinsystemsystem

Benefits:Benefits: Mutual supportMutual support

WarmthWarmth

Limitations:Limitations: DependenceDependence

Trouble relating toTrouble relating toothersothers

Structural Family TherapyStructural Family TherapyFamily StructureFamily Structure

Rigid Boundary

Clear Boundary

Diffuse Boundary

Coalition

Conflict

DetouringInvolvement

Overinvolvement

Structural Family TherapyStructural Family TherapyGoalsGoals

Change structure of familyChange structure of family

Altering boundariesAltering boundaries

Realigning subsystemsRealigning subsystems

7/28/2019 Introduction to Family Counseling

4/7

Structural Family TherapyStructural Family TherapyTechniquesTechniques

JoiningJoining

Working w/ interactionWorking w/ interaction

Who talks to whom?Who talks to whom?

When? In what way?When? In what way? EnactmentsEnactments

SpontaneousSpontaneous BxBx SeqSeq

DiagnosingDiagnosing

(e.g., interpretation)(e.g., interpretation)

Modify interactionsModify interactions IntensityIntensity

Shaping competenceShaping competence

Boundary makingBoundary making B/w subsystemsB/w subsystems

UnbalancingUnbalancing Focus on subsystemFocus on subsystem

Challenging assumptionsChallenging assumptions

Experiential Family TherapyExperiential Family TherapyOverviewOverview

Humanistic & ExistentialHumanistic & Existential

SelfSelf--awarenessawareness

SelfSelf--expressionexpression

SelfSelf--actualizationactualization

Development of ProblemsDevelopment of Problems

Result of suppression of feelingsResult of suppression of feelings

Lack flexibilityLack flexibility

Experiential Family TherapyExperiential Family TherapyGoalsGoals

GrowthGrowth

Balance belongingness & individuationBalance belongingness & individuation

Emotional experiencingEmotional experiencing

Symptom reliefSymptom relief

Through selfThrough self--awareness & actualizationawareness & actualization

7/28/2019 Introduction to Family Counseling

5/7

Experiential Family TherapyExperiential Family TherapyTechniquesTechniques

Family SculptureFamily Sculpture

CurrentCurrent Identified patientIdentified patient

Each memberEach member

FutureFuture

Role PlayRole Play

Family puppetFamily puppet

interviewsinterviews

Family Art TherapyFamily Art Therapy

Joint family scribbleJoint family scribble

Family drawingFamily drawing

Kinetic Family DrawingKinetic Family Drawing

There are no techniques, only people

Emotion Focused Couples TherapyEmotion Focused Couples Therapy

Johnson & GreenbergJohnson & Greenberg

Based on attachment theoryBased on attachment theory

Weak attachmentWeak attachment conceal emotionsconceal emotions useuse

withdrawal, coerciveness, blamingwithdrawal, coerciveness, blaming negativenegative

interaction patternsinteraction patterns

Goals of therapy:Goals of therapy:

Reprocess negative emotional sequencesReprocess negative emotional sequences

Narrative TherapyNarrative TherapyStories dont mirror lifeStories dont mirror life

they shape it.they shape it.

7/28/2019 Introduction to Family Counseling

6/7

Narrative Therapy:Narrative Therapy:Basic AssumptionsBasic Assumptions

All knowledge is constructedAll knowledge is constructed

Stories shape how we interpret eventsStories shape how we interpret events

People have good intentions & want to changePeople have good intentions & want to change People are NOT their problemsPeople are NOT their problems

People are effected by cultural discoursesPeople are effected by cultural discourses

Narrative Therapy:Narrative Therapy:Goals of TherapyGoals of Therapy

ExternalizationExternalization

Separate the person from the problemSeparate the person from the problem

Deconstructing problemDeconstructing problem--saturated storiessaturated stories

Find exceptionsFind exceptions

CoCo--authoring new storiesauthoring new stories

Narrative Therapy:Narrative Therapy:TechniquesTechniques

Clients tell problemClients tell problem--saturated storysaturated story

Externalizing languageExternalizing language

Mapping the influenceMapping the influence

Relative influence questionsRelative influence questions

ReauthoringReauthoringthe whole storythe whole story

Reinforcing the new storyReinforcing the new story

7/28/2019 Introduction to Family Counseling

7/7

Narrative Therapy:Narrative Therapy:ExamplesExamples

Depression made your daughter actDepression made your daughter actthis waythis way

How does GUILT effect you?How does GUILT effect you? What does it say about you that youWhat does it say about you that you

were able to battle ANGER this way?were able to battle ANGER this way?

How much has the problem controlledHow much has the problem controlledyou this past week & how much haveyou this past week & how much haveyou controlled the problem?you controlled the problem?

Interviewing a ProblemInterviewing a Problem

Example:Example:

What areas of Johnnys life are you causing trouble with?What areas of Johnnys life are you causing trouble with?

Work? Friends?Work? Friends?

Do you interfere with his judgment? Opinion of himself?Do you interfere with his judgment? Opinion of himself?

In which areas do you think you have the upper hand?In which areas do you think you have the upper hand?

What people in his left have kept free from your influence?What people in his left have kept free from your influence?

How have they managed that?How have they managed that?

What about Johnny is making a bit of trouble for you?What about Johnny is making a bit of trouble for you?

Does anything about Johnny and his family make youDoes anything about Johnny and his family make younervous?nervous?