Theory Paper: Family Case Application

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Theory Paper: Family Case Application The structural family therapy model was the theory this student addressed in the family paper assignment. Gehart (2014) explains this theory’s fundamental concepts are boundaries, hierarchies, and subsystems. A family can have clear, enmeshed, or disengaged boundaries. A clear boundary involves a boundary between people that allows simultaneous emotional closeness and distance. Clear boundaries include having a strong sense of identity, autonomy, and closeness. Every culture defines closeness and distance differently. Enmeshed boundaries involve a person losing their identity because of lack of independence. An enmeshed interaction gives little distinction of individuality and autonomy. Disengaged boundaries are distancing oneself form another at the expense of the relationship. Gehart (2014) explains the three forms of a hierarchy: effective, insufficient, and excessive. An effective hierarchy has healthy boundaries that are appropriate and facilitate success. An insufficient hierarchy involves the adult allowing children to do as they please with little consequence. Excessive hierarchies entail a parenting style of stringent rules and unfair consequences. The last fundamental concept Gehart writes about is subsystems. There can be a subsystem between parents, children, and parent and child. Gehart (2014) states a parent child subsystem, or cross-generational coalition, can be damaging. In this scenario a child and parent team up against another parent. The parent child coalition is common among parents who have divorced. Each parent may try to form a coalition with the child. Often, coalitions can be covert no matter if it is in a divorce or within a marriage. Biosoci... ... middle of paper ... ..., M., Giordano, J., Garcia-Preto, N. (Eds.). (2005). Ethnicity and family therapy 3rd ed. New York, NY. The Guildford Press. Melito. R., (2006). Integrating individual and family therapies: a Structural-Developmental Approach. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 16(3), 346-381. Doi:10.1037/1053-0479.16.3.346 Ramisch, J. L., McVicker, M., & Sahin, Z. S., (2009). Helping low-conflict divorced parents establish appropriate boundaries using a variation of the mircle question: an integration of Solution-Focused Therapy and Structural Family Therapy. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 50, 481-495. Doi:10.1080/10502550902970587 Ryan, W. J., Conti, R. P., & Simon, G. M., (2013). Presuppostion compatibility facilitates treatment fidelity in therapists learning Structural Family Therapy. The American Journal of Family Therapy. 41. 403-414. Doi:10.1080/01926187.2012.727673

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