Family Therapy Theories Review PDF

Structural Family Therapy (SFT) SFT was pioneered by Salvador Minuchin in the 1960s and is rooted in systems theory. The fundamental premise is that psychological problems stem from dysfunctional family structures rather than individual pathology. Key principles include: Family Structure: Foc...

Structural Family Therapy (SFT) SFT was pioneered by Salvador Minuchin in the 1960s and is rooted in systems theory. The fundamental premise is that psychological problems stem from dysfunctional family structures rather than individual pathology. Key principles include: Family Structure: Focuses on the invisible set of functional demands that organize the ways family members interact. Hierarchical Boundaries: Emphasizes clear generational boundaries, where parents maintain appropriate leadership and children have age-appropriate roles. Subsystem Dynamics: Identifies different family subsystems (parental, sibling, extended) and how they interact. Interventions: Joining and Accommodating: The therapist becomes part of the family system to understand its unique dynamics. Mapping Family Structure: Visually and verbally analyzing family interactions and power dynamics. Restructuring: Directly intervening to modify dysfunctional interaction patterns. Boundary Making: Helping families establish clearer, more functional boundaries between subsystems. Structural Family Therapy (SFT) Goals: Restructure dysfunctional family interaction patterns Establish clear and appropriate generational boundaries Strengthen the parental subsystem Clarify roles and hierarchies within the family system Improve communication and reduce conflictual interactions Create more flexible and adaptive family structures Help family members understand their systemic roles and impacts Example Scenario: In a family where a child is acting out, SFT would examine how family members interact, potentially revealing that parents are not presenting a united front or that generational boundaries are blurred. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) Developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg in the 1980s, SFBT is a future-oriented, goal-directed approach that differs significantly from traditional problem-focused therapies. Key Principles: Focus on Solutions: Concentrates on what's working rather than analyzing what's wrong. Client Expertise: Believes clients are the experts in their own lives and have the resources to create change. Future Orientation: Emphasizes future possibilities rather than past problems. Interventions: Miracle Question: "If a miracle happened overnight and solved your problem, what would be different?" Exception-Finding: Identifying times when the problem does not occur or is less severe. Scaling Questions: Using numerical scales to measure progress and hope. Compliments and Positive Reframing: Highlighting client strengths and resilience. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) Goals: Identify and amplify existing client strengths Co-create specific, achievable future-oriented goals Shift focus from problems to potential solutions Enhance client's confidence and self-efficacy Develop practical strategies for immediate positive change Minimize time spent analyzing past issues Empower clients to recognize their own problem-solving capabilities Example Scenario: Instead of diving deep into why a couple is struggling, SFBT would ask, "What small changes could improve your relationship?" and help them build on existing strengths. Narrative Family Therapy Developed by Michael White and David Epston in Australia, this approach views problems as separate from people, emphasizing the power of storytelling in personal transformation. Core Concepts: Externalization: Separating the person from the problem (e.g., "You're not depressed, you're experiencing depression") Dominant Narratives: Challenging restrictive, problem-saturated stories Re-authoring: Helping clients construct alternative, more empowering narratives Interventions: Unique Outcome Exploration: Identifying moments that contradict the problem-saturated story Definitional Ceremonies: Creating meaningful rituals of narrative transformation Remembering Conversations: Documenting therapeutic progress and personal growth Example Scenario: For a teenager struggling with anxiety, the therapist might help them see anxiety as an external experience, not a defining characteristic, and explore times when they've successfully managed challenging situations. Narrative Family Therapy Goals:  Separate individuals from their problems (externalization) Challenge dominant, limiting personal narratives Reconstruct more empowering personal and family stories Reduce the impact of problem-saturated descriptions Highlight client agency and personal resilience Discover "unique outcomes" that contradict problematic narratives Promote a more positive, self-determined sense of identity Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Pioneered by Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis, CBT is a structured, present-focused therapy that addresses the interconnection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Fundamental Principles: Cognitive Distortions: Identifying and challenging irrational thought patterns Behavioral Modification: Developing healthier coping strategies Skill Building: Teaching practical tools for managing emotional challenges Interventions: Cognitive Restructuring: Challenging and reframing negative thought patterns Behavioral Experiments: Testing the validity of beliefs through real-world experiences Exposure Therapy: Gradually confronting fears in a controlled, supportive environment Thought Records: Documenting and analyzing thought patterns Skills Training: Learning communication, stress management, and emotional regulation techniques Example Scenario: For someone with social anxiety, CBT might involve challenging beliefs like "Everyone will judge me" and gradually exposing them to social situations with supportive strategies. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Goals: Identify and challenge negative thought patterns Modify dysfunctional beliefs and cognitive distortions Develop more adaptive thinking styles Change behavior through cognitive restructuring Teach practical coping and problem-solving skills Reduce symptoms of mental health challenges Prevent relapse by providing ongoing self-management strategies Increase emotional regulation and resilience Experiential Family Therapy Developed by pioneers like Carl Whitaker and Virginia Satir, this approach emphasizes emotional authenticity, personal growth, and transformative experiences. Key Philosophical Foundations: Emotional Expression: Valuing genuine, unfiltered emotional communication Personal Transformation: Viewing therapy as a growth opportunity Holistic Approach: Considering emotional, spiritual, and relational dimensions Interventions: Spontaneous Role-Playing: Creating dynamic, revealing interaction scenarios Symbolic Enactments: Using metaphorical interactions to reveal deeper family dynamics Emotional Confrontation: Encouraging direct, authentic emotional expression Creating Corrective Emotional Experiences: Providing opportunities for healing interactions Example Scenario: In a family with communication difficulties, the therapist might encourage members to express previously unexpressed feelings or recreate problematic interactions with more authentic emotional engagement. Experiential Family Therapy Goals: Facilitate genuine emotional expression Create corrective emotional experiences Enhance authentic communication within family systems Promote personal and relational growth Encourage spontaneity and emotional vulnerability Break down defensive communication patterns Support individual and collective healing Develop deeper, more meaningful family connections Comparative Goal Perspective: SFT focuses on structural reorganization SFBT emphasizes solution generation NT prioritizes story reconstruction CBT targets cognitive and behavioral modification ET seeks emotional transformation