Family systems

Question 1

What is joining?

Answer 1

Accommodating to a family’s system to help the members change dysfunctional patterns; Structural

Question 2

What is a genogram?

Answer 2

An assessment tool that is a schematic diagram of the family system including three generations that helps identify recurring patterns of behaviour

Question 3

What is circular questioning?

Answer 3

Questioning each family member regarding recursive interactional patterns amongst members

Question 4

What is common among family therapies?

Answer 4

• philosophy of the importance of dealing with all parts of the system if change is to take place and be maintained
• they believe that clients must be considered within the contexts of their family systems
• dysfunctional behaviour grows out of interactional family unit + community and society
• interactive and systemic viewpoint that what one person in the system does affects the whole system and individuals, and the whole family is an entity of its own beyond the sum of the individuals.
• challenge the traditional intrapsychic framework

Question 5

What are the assumptions of family systems models?

Answer 5

Client’s problematic behaviour
1- may serve a function or purpose in the family
2- be a function of the family’s inability to operate productively
2- may be a symptom of dysfunctional patterns handed down across generations

Question 6

What is the gist of the Multigenerational approach?

Answer 6

Multigenerational approach assumes that problems won’t change until the relationship patters of the family origin are understood and challenged, and that emotional problems are passed down through generations

Question 7

What are key concepts of multigenerational approach?

Answer 7

• triangulation

- differentiation of the self

Question 8

What is triangulation?

Answer 8

A pattern of interaction consisting of detouring conflict between two people by involving a third person and result in a two-against-one experience

Question 9

What is differentiation of the self?

Answer 9

Concept of psychological separation of intellect and emotions, and of independence of the self from others
- the greater the differentiation the greater the resistance to getting sucked into dysfunctional family patterns

Question 10

What are the multigenerational goals?

Answer 10

1- reduce anxiety and distress from symptoms

2- maximize self-differentiation for all members

Question 11

What is the therapist role in multigenerational?

Answer 11

Guide, facilitator, objective researcher, monitor self, coach

Question 12

What are the multigenerational techniques?

Answer 12

• asking questions
• genogram
• homework
• tracking interactional sequences
• detriangulating relationships

Question 13

What is the gist of the strategic approach?

Answer 13

The individual’s symptoms are best understood within the interactional patterns of a family and symptoms can only be reduced with structural changes

Question 14

What are the structural goals?

Answer 14

• reduce symptoms of dysfunction

- bring about structural change by modifying family transactional rules and appropriate boundaries

Question 15

What are boundaries?

Answer 15

Emotional barriers that protect individuals within a system

Question 16

What is the therapist role in structural?

Answer 16

Friendly uncle, stage manager, directors, join the system and attempt to manipulate the structure to modify dysfunctional patterns

Question 17

What are the techniques in structural?

Answer 17

• tracking transactional sequences
• reframing
• issuing directives
• joining
• restructuring
• enactment

Question 18

What are enactments?

Answer 18

An intervention where the family plays out its relationship patterns during session so that the therapist can observe and change them (structural)

Question 19

What is reframing?

Answer 19

Relabeling a family’s description of behaviour by putting it into a new and more positive perspective

Question 20

What is the gist of the strategic approach?

Answer 20

Dysfunctional behaviour can be solved by applying strategic interventions designed by the therapist to family problems and is based on the communication and interactional sequences, concerned with power

Question 21

What are the therapeutic goals of the strategic approach?

Answer 21

Resolve a family’s presenting problems by changing its current behavioural sequences

Question 22

What is the role of the strategic therapist?

Answer 22

• Consultant, expert, active and directive,

- problem solver

Question 23

What techniques are used in strategic?

Answer 23

• reframing
• directives
• paradoxical interventions
• track interactional sequences

Question 24

What are paradoxical directives?

Answer 24

Interventions where the therapist directs family members to continue their symptomatic behaviour and change occurs through defying the directive.

Question 25

What is enmeshment?

Answer 25

A structural term referring to the blurring of psychological boundaries within the family structure making autonomy difficult to achieve