Every family is different. There are traditional families, and non-traditional families; There are families that are large, and some that are only a few people. Families are generally complicated in one way or another. A family that needs a solution to a problem could seek family therapy. One technique that is well known is family systems therapy. “Individuals are best understood through assessing the interactions of the entire family.” (Corey, M. S. & Corey, G., 2011). Family systems therapy is based on a theory by Murray Bowen (goodtherapy.org). There are many forms of family therapy based on the family systems theory. One was designed by Bowen himself, and this is called intergenerational family therapy. This therapy is designed on identifying Bowen’s theory are very wide, as he is the father of family systems therapy. Goodtherapy.org states, “Bowen’s theory suggests it is beneficial to address the structure and behavior of the broader relationship system, which he believed to play a part in the formation of character (goodtherapy.org).” Bowen believes, “changes in behavior of one family member are likely to have an influence on the way the family functions over time (goodtherapy.org).” I believe Bowen is correct with these points as well as the nuclear family emotional process; Most relationship (any relationship, family, dating, and more) problems I’ve ever had could be categorized in one of those 4 categories. The idea that multigenerational issues are existent is an extremely helpful tool in trying to find a cause for some problems. The differentiation of self is also key to succeeding in life, as you must keep your focus on your goals and not let anxiety or stress from your family impede your progress. Overall, I believe if you keep Bowen’s theory in mind while doing family therapy and not base your entire practice on his theory, you will be overall Bowen’s theory, here is a little background on him. Murray Bowen was born in 1913 (thebowencenter.org). Bowen earned a Bachelor’s in Science at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville in 1934, and went on to get his MD from the University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis in 1937 (thebowencenter.org). He interned at Bellevue Hospital in New York City as well as Grasslands Hospital in Valhalla, New York (thebowencenter.org). After finishing his internships, Bowen went on to serve in the Army during World War II for 5 years. While in the war, Bowen’s interests changed from his concentration in surgery to an interest in psychiatry (thebowencenter.org). As the Bowen Center’s website reads, “His psychiatric training was at the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas, beginning in 1946. He became a staff member upon completion of his formal training – although he had assumed staff-level responsibilities while still in a training status – and remained at Menninger’s until 1954
For Bowen, the family is the unit of observation and the emphasis is put on emotional forces that are common to all families, this helps to reduce the significance of which family member is causing the problem. Bowens approach to change is understood within the context of striving to understand life’s forces, the very principal that gives coherence to Bowens approach to therapy. (Friedman, 1991). When attempting to achieve change within a client the source of the issue is less important, but rather trying to locate the systematic forces within a family as well as those that are transmitted from generation...
A systems based treatment plan is necessary when working with this family and a systemic assessment is needed to accomplish this. “A systemic assessment will typically reveal that marital and/or parenting issues are contributing to the presenting problem” (Gehart, p. 37, 2016). The therapist will start by using a genogram. A genogram was used to analyze the Andersen family, as it is a structured way of collecting information about the family. It allows the therapist to gather details and “identifies not only problematic intergenerational patterns, but also alternate ways for relating and handling problems” (Gehart, 2014, p. 237). A genogram is a visual representation of the family and their history that will display
Many families have certain roles and traditions that are followed by being taught or just by habit. Within those families are certain roles that are followed or taken on. Some families are patriarchal meaning that the man or father is more dominant or in charge and some families are matriarchal being that the mother is in charge or more dominant and in control. For some families these certain roles fit the family perfectly with not much of an issue which can balance out the family. But unfortunately for other families these roles break the household down making the household unbalanced. And this can cause the family to lack in some areas such as understanding, communication, or forgiveness.
Structural therapy focuses on the family as a whole. It is concerned about how the issues effect the family relationships and connections. This theory concentrates on how well the understanding is amongst the family members and counselor. The members of the family are prompted to understand how the issues were created, where did the issues come from, when the issues started effecting their family, and what the family needs to overcome their issues. Its focus is to help others understand and improve negative behavior. The structural therapy concentrates on the interaction and boundaries of families with separating the whole family into smaller groups. The subsystems will create a clearer understanding of what issues are hurting their family environment (Gladding, S. T. 2010). The counselor is concerned about the members interaction because this reveals how strong the relationships and connections are in the home. The boundaries are important because they create an understanding that there are limits and order, and the boundaries can be diffused, rigid, or clear (Gladding, S. T. 2010). The counselor is expected to identify techniques so members can understand which boundaries are clear, positive, and healthy (Gladding, S. T. 2010).
Murray Bowen developed family systems theory. This transgenerational model looks at how a family’s history informs their present functioning. Today it is a prominent model used by today’s family and marriage mental health professionals. Derived from psychoanalytic thinking and sometimes called natural systems theory, it posits that families are living and evolving systems shaped by chronic anxiety transmitted through its generations. Anxiety is aroused when individuals attempt to balance their individual identity with being a part of a family. This balancing act inevitably causes anxiety, triggering biological coping responses instead of healthy cognition and reasoning (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2012). Erford
Having a family is no easy task, especially when you are faced with many challenges that are unforeseen. Sometimes one imagines or hopes for an ideal family. The ideal family would consist of a spouse, one or two kids and live happily with little to no conflicts. The reality is that even if one tries to avoid conflict by all possible means, conflict is inevitable. Stressors and strengths within a family can be seen in almost every situation. Although stressors tend to be more noticeable than the strengths. Some of which will be discussed later on, although it will be mainly focused on the strength and stressors faced after a divorce for children. But if one focuses on the stressors more than the strengths, one will only see stressors rather than solutions.
Family systems have been studied since psychologists began studying people and their behaviors. The family is a dynamic system—a self-organizing system that adapts itself to changes in its members and to changes in its environment (as cited in Sigelman & Rider, 2009). Allowing the focus of a family system to grow beyond the mother and child relationship did not happen overnight. For many years, there was no connection made between other members of the family and the developmental issues of the children involved.
Duty, G. (2010, December 10). Family Systems Therapy. Lecture presented at Principles of Counseling Class Notes, Bethany.
Nichols, M. P. (2010). Family therapy concepts and methods (9 ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Furthermore, “the central premise of this theory is that one must resolve all emotional issues with the family of origin, rather than reject reactively or accept passively that family, before one can become a mature and healthy individual” (Charles, 2001, p. 280). Bowen believed that the change in the self occurred through the change in relationships with others, so he encouraged the client to reconnect with the nuclear family members and resolve all emotional issues with them. This is because Bowen believed that unresolved conflicts with the family of origin would catch up with the client and affect his or her present relationships. Also, conflicts do not exist in the person, but in the family system. The necessary changes must take place in the self as well as in the larger system.
Structured Family Therapy (SFT) refers the mere undesignated rules that structure how a family interacts with one another (Walsh, 2010). The family unit is composed of systems or parts, and the parts must be unified to compile a whole unit to create homeostasis (Broderick, 1993). SFT therapy is warranted when dysfunction enters the family unit, and creates a deficiency of adaption by the individual which disrupts the family structure (Boyle, 2000). The family structure is composed of major components such as: subsystems, executive authority, boundaries, rules, roles, alliances, triangles, flexibility, and communication (Walsh,
Furthermore, the structural family therapy are theories and techniques method for individuals to help them in their social and relational relationships (Vetere, 2001). Additionally, the definition of structure is organizational characteristics of families at any given time, the family subsystems, and open and concealed rules that effect interpersonal decisions and behaviors in the family (Vetere, 2001).
Both the Bowen family theory and Christianity are based on the functionality of families. The Bowen family theory and Christianity are based on focusing on the future and working though issues on the past. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV). God wants us to focus on our future and be better people, rather than focus on the
families have struggles, both internal and external, and while this is undoubtedly true, the struggles that
It was first implemented from the United States and Canada, it focuses is mainly on serious and high-risk youths. It combines multiple therapy techniques such as cognitive-behavioural family therapies and behavioural parent training. It does this as it acknowledges that the young people will be embedded in a number of different social environments like the community, families and their peer groups and so this technique aims to combat all of these (Banks, 2013). Another form of therapy currently used is Function Family Therapy (FFT). It was designed several years ago and it is a short term intervention strategy and is designed to be delivered by therapists at home. This means it is less intensive than the MST strategy and costs a lot less and so is often the more popular option for the government. It targets youths between 11 and 18 years of age who have issues with delinquency, substance abuse or violence. It aims to enhance problem solving skills along with improving the family environment by working on the emotional connections and strengthening the family structure (Banks, 2013). The last popular therapy intervention strategy is Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC). This system differs from MST and FFT in the fact that the young person does not continue to live at