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Family Therapy An Overview Quizlet
Strengths and weaknesses of family therapy
Family Therapy An Overview Quizlet
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Taylor Family Treatment Plan Introduction As a social worker it is often complex to determine which theory to employ in practice, each client will warrant for an in-debt assessment of the presenting problem and goals the client desires to achieve. This paper will explore one family intervention model that can be applied to the Taylor family. The two theories analyzed are Cognitive Behavioral Family Theory, (CBFT) and Structural Family Theory (SFT); both theories can be utilized when assisting individuals or families. The social worker will focus on the Cognitive Behavioral Family Therapy model when applying treatment and interventions to the Taylor family case. Family Intervention Models Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) emphasizes the modification of thoughts that will invoke change in behavior (Nichols, 2014). There are two derivation causes for a distorted cognition: a structured schema, or map in the brain, that is too complex to handle the situation, and cognitive distortions of reality (Pajares, 2002). Schemas are materialized from life experiences, and the environment from birth, and direct how the brain translates these events (Bandura, 1989). The individual’s interpretation or …show more content…
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,
Structural family therapy (SFT) emphasizes the idea that a system is only as good as its hierarchies, rules and boundaries. Under SFT, a family system functions by having boundaries, between and within each subsystem that offer clear identification with the hierarchy. Hierarchies determine the rules that govern each subsystem explicitly; therefore, SFT argues that hierarchies are necessary to ensure that the system continues to grow and adapt as well as provide structure for the family. SFT maintains that there are three primary subsystems in a family, parental, spousal and sibling. According to SFT, the rules and subsystem also determine the appropriate boundary that is needed when interacting with
The objective of structural family therapy for this family would be to improve the functionality of the family system and restore the structured family system with development (Collins, Jordan, & Coleman, 2010). Additionally, since the family dynamics are somewhat different since the father is away often and the girls were younger when the family dysfunction initiated, it may be appropriate to work on boundaries in therapy. McAdams, et al.(2016) found that “foundational structural principles of family hierarchy, system and subsystem boundaries, and member alliances all continue to play a central role in current applications of the structural model, and the assessment criteria applied most recently to structural family therapy process and outcome research are likewise grounded in those structural principles” (McAdams, et al.,
Because of the large amount of overlap in assessing the given family from a structural and strategic point of view, only the differences and additional requirements will be described in the following section. The main areas of differences relate to the overall therapeutic focus and the discussion of power. From a strategic point of view, problems serve as a function therefore the differences in assessment will not focus on shifts in power or hierarchy but will assess what purpose each issue serves. Additionally, viewing the family from a strategic point of view, each problem mustn’t be addressed as its own entity but all issues/concerns can be traced back to the presenting problem. The assessment, therefore, becomes part of the therapeutic
Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) in particular, has been found to be useful in helping to improve family functioning for those who are at risk for substance abuse. According to these researchers, BSFT is rooted in Structural Family Therapy, which was developed by Salvador Minuchin. They state that this approach was developed to help urban minority families living in poverty, and that it operates on the assumption that the therapy will be brief, provides flexibility in its use, and the major goal is to change the family system (e.g. based on the specific needs of the family). There are three major components of BSFT, which include: joining, family pattern diagnosis, and restructuring. In the study conducted by Santisteban et al (1997), African American and Hispanic American youth ages 12 to 14 and their parents participated in a BFST intervention program. The youth were given both pre-tests and post-tests to measure their behavior problems, conduct, anxiety, family functioning, and substance use. The researchers found that BFST was effective in improving conduct disorder, socialized aggression, as well as overall family functioning. They also found each of these factors were predictive of the likelihood of substance abuse initiation in the future (Santisteban et al,
In the SFT model, the therapist takes an active directional stance (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013, p. 273). This creatively active approach allows the therapist to become part of the family system in order to unbalance and change the family’s structure and perspective, and is especially effective with difficult families (Seligman, 2004, pp. 245-246). However, therapeutic change is a delicate process and must occur in a trusting therapeutic relationship: too little involvement on the part of the therapist, and the family’s structural status quo will continue to be maintained; too much direction before the family is ready can cause a premature termination of therapy (Vetere, 2001, p. 135).
“Cognitive-behavior therapy refers to those approaches inspired by the work of Albert Ellis (1962) and Aaron Beck (1976) that emphasize the need for attitude change to promote and maintain behavior modification” (Nichols, 2013, p.185). A fictitious case study will next be presented in order to describe ways in which cognitive behavioral therapy can be used to treat the family members given their presenting problems.
Fred, Wilma, and Rose present an interesting perspective when looking at their family through a Structural Family Systems Theory. When trying to work with the family a social worker will utilize Functional Family Therapy in order to understand their structure and maybe ameliorate some of the family’s problems. Using Rose and her family as the clients it will be able explain what interventions we can use when we learn the constructs of the theory.
The concept of Structural family therapy is how the therapist “view the family as a system structured according to set patterns and rules that govern family interactions” (2003, Gehart & Tuttle, p. 23). The therapist goal is to interact with the clients during the therapy session to obtain an understanding of the reported problem. This process will allow the therapist to assist the clients with changing their structure. Strategic family therapy concept is to attempt to address a specific problem of the family in a shorter timeframe than other therapeutic services. Both approaches strive to assist the clients with overcoming their family issues, however views the structure of the family differently. For example, structural approach works with the family by identifying the problems and improving the behavior with and strategic therapy works with changing the client behavior to improve the problem.
Experiential Family Therapy is a therapy that encourages patients to address subconscious issues through actions, and role playing. It is a treatment that is used for a group of people in order to determine the source of problem in the family (Gurman and Kniskern, 2014). Experiential Family Therapy has its strengths and weaknesses. One of the strengths of this therapy is that, it focuses on the present and patients are able to express their emotions on what is happening to them presently. The client will have time to share everything about his/her life experiences one on one without any fears. As a result, it helps the client in the healing process because, he/she is able to express their feelings freely and come out of the problem. Therefore, in this type of therapy, the clients are deeply involved in solving their issues. It helps clients to scrutinize their individual connections and to initiate a self-discovery through therapy, on how their relationships influence their current behaviors (Gurman and Kniskern, 2014). By examining their personal relationships through experiential family therapy, family members are able to
Experiential family therapy is one that believes the root cause of the problems in the families is a result of emotional suppression. This theory is focused on freedom experiencing emotions in the here-and-now. Experiential family therapists believe clients should seek self-fulfillment and focus on individual’s roles in the family rather than on the family as a whole. In order to promote growth, the individual and family must both grow. Once families are emotionally healthy, healthy attachments can then be made. I am drawn to this approach because of its focus on the individual. I believe that if individuals are healthy, family roles will become clearer and the system as a whole will become healthier. It is similar to when a spoiled piece of fruit makes it into a fruit salad, the entire salad is then ruined; however, if the entire salad is healthy, everyone will enjoy it. (Nichols, 2014, p. 130-132)
Family systems therapy helps in knowing and understanding the family values. It helps in knowing the bonds that are generated in the relationship between the different family members. Dave knows that he needs help from his parents, but is not able to express it. This approach will help him to talk to his parents, as well as will help him to get close to his parents in such bad times. It is not easy even to talk to your parents, and hence this theoretical approach describes the path through which one can achieve his desired family objective. Family is important in every need and in every cause. But, this theoretical approach needs to be applied along with the application of integration and application theory (Attree, 2005). Family life alone will not help Dave to come out of his problems; hence, he needs some sort of integration that will handle all his issues. He needs to improve his relations with his friends and colleagues, in order to perform better in his life. And, this will be only possible, if he is able to integrate his professional life as well as personal life in a better way. Further, family systems therapy will help him to stay in a better way with his parents. He will engage them in his every conversation, which in turn will make his life joyful. He will feel more relax, cool, calm, and stress-free in his life
“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
Cognitive Behavioral Family Therapy (CBFT) attends to both external interactions amongst family members and their internal experiences. This treatment modality also attends to the families’ emotional reaction to one another (Wetchler & Hecker, 2015). CBFT holds that healthy families are those that are able to be more flexible to lives stressors, and maintain appropriate consequences for negative behaviors (Dattilio, 2010). Families that are dysfunctional on the other hand, will hold dysfunctional family schemas and reinforce negative behaviors by the use of intermitted reinforcement (Nichols, 2013). CBFT is guided by the principle that the therapist and family members in treatment should have a collaborative
These models include the family systems orientation, structural model, strategic model and the experimental model. He also discusses models from the social sciences, such as the family development orientation, family coping and adaptation and symbolic-interactionist orientation. Yet in spite of these various theories and models there are still some issues, which clinicians who are treating families need to address. Clinicians tend to project their own values and assumptions into the treatment process altering the assessment (Walsh, 1982). They also need to keep updated with all the current advancement in research literature and training (Walsh, 1982). In doing so, they will have a better chance of having a positive impact on the families they are working
Structural family therapy was developed by Salvador Minuchin (1974). “The central idea was that an individual’s symptoms are best understood from the vantage point of interactional patterns, or sequences, within a family” (Corey, p. 408). In order for an individual’s symptoms to be reduced or eliminated, structural changes must occur in the family (Corey). The goals of structural family therapy are to reduce symptoms of dysfunction and to establish appropriate boundaries so that structural change can occur.