MFT Exam Flashcards
(248 cards)
Circular Causality
Systems theory views causality as circular (recursive) rather than linear. In other words, A influences B which influences A which influences B, etc.
Common Factors
Common factors are also referred to as nonspecific factors and are common to most forms of therapy. According to Lambert (2003), 30% of variability in psychotherapy outcomes is attributable to common factors (e.g., the therapeutic relationship, person-centered facilitative conditions, insight and other learning factors).
Cybernetics
Cybernetics is concerned with systems that are self-regulating via negative and positive feedback loops. A negative feedback loop reduces deviation and helps a system maintain the status quo, while a positive feedback loop amplifies deviation and disrupts the status quo.
Negative Feedback Loop
A negative feedback loop reduces deviation and helps a system maintain the status quo
Positive Feedback Loop
A positive feedback loop amplifies deviation and disrupts the status quo
Double-Bind Hypothesis
As described by Bateson, Jackson, Haley, and Weakland (1956), double-bind communication is an etiological factor for schizophrenia and involves conflicting messages - e.g., “do that and you’ll be punished” and “don’t do that and you’ll be punished” - with one message often being expressed verbally and the other nonverbally. In addition, the recipient of the contradictory messages is not allowed to comment on them or seek help from someone else.
Empirically Supported Treatments
Empirically supported treatments (ESTs) are treatments that have been found to be effective by experimental studies that meet rigorous research criteria for a particular client population experiencing a particular disorder or condition.
Evidence-Based Practice
Evidence-based practice involves combining clinical expertise and research evidence (e.g., research on empirically supported treatments and common factors) to identify the best treatment for a particular client given his/her unique characteristics and circumstances.
Family Resilience Framework (Walsh)
Walsh’s (2006) family resilience framework was designed to guide clinical assessment and intervention when working with families facing stressful situations and identifies the key processes that strengthen a family’s resilience. These processes are categorized in terms of three domains: family belief systems, family organization patterns, and family communication processes.
Who Designed the Family Resilience Framework?
Family Resilience Framework (Walsh)
Family Resilience Framework: Three Domains
Family belief systems, family organization patterns, and family communication processes.
First-Order Change
A first-order change is temporary or superficial and does not alter the family system (e.g., does not alter the system’s fundamental rules).
Does not alter the system’s fundamental rules
First-Order Change
Second-Order Change
A second-order change is permanent and involves a fundamental change in the family system (e.g., an alteration in the system’s fundamental rules).
An alteration in the system’s fundamental rules
Second-Order Change
General Systems Theory
General systems theory was proposed by the biologist von Bertalanffy who defined a system as an entity that is maintained by the mutual interactions of its components and proposed that the actions of interacting components are best understood by studying them in their context.
Who Proposed General Systems Theory?
Biologist - Von Bertalanffy
Homeostasis
Homeostasis is the tendency for a family (or other system) to act in ways that maintain its equilibrium (customary way of functioning) over time and to resist change.
Identified Patient
The identified patient is the “symptom bearer” who has brought the family to therapy and who is identified by other family members as the person with the problem.
“symptom bearer”
The identified patient is the “symptom bearer” who has brought the family to therapy and who is identified by other family members as the person with the problem.
Indications For Couple Therapy
Couple therapy is likely to be effective when the presenting problem is clearly related to the couple’s relationship; the development of problems in one partner coincided with the onset of relationship conflict; or the couple is thinking about ending their relationship and wants to resolve issues with the help of a therapist.
Contraindications For Couple Therapy
Couple therapy may be contraindicated when domestic violence is currently present in the relationship; one partner is so severely disturbed that his/her behavior makes couple therapy impossible; or one partner is having an affair and is unwilling to admit to or give up the affair.
Indications for Family Therapy
Family therapy is likely to be effective when a family member’s symptoms are manifestations of problems in the family system; improvement in one family member is likely to cause (or has caused) the development of symptoms in another family member; or a family member has symptoms that are known to be effectively treated by family therapy (e.g., substance abuse, an eating disorder, conduct disorder).
Contraindications for Family Therapy
Family therapy may be contraindicated when a family member’s presenting problem is not related to family functioning; key family members are unavailable or unwilling to participate in family therapy; or one family member is so severely disturbed that his or her behavior makes family treatment impossible.