Minuchin, Structural Flashcards
Structural Family Therapy
Classical
Developed for families
Minuchin
WHO: ENTIRE family, currently.
HOW LONG: Short-term, no limit, usually 10-20 session though
GOALS: Alter, reorganize, restructure - promote problem-solving, ecourage growth.
- Must have functioning spousal subsystem
- Clear boundaries
Goals achieved over series of interventions.
(Trained by Ackerman, father of family therapy)
Systems structured around patters & rules
Subsytems that work independently, with, to the whole.
“Look at family as organism”
Roles, communication styles, interactional styles, covert/overt rules,
Rules are primary - therapist observes in HERE/NOW
Ea. family works to make a more congruent whole by having an effective hierarchical structure.
Subsystems
Structural
Minuchin
Units w/in a family system: dyads, triads, etc. Perform certain functions
Boundaries
Structural
Minuchin
Hypothetical line that protects family and subsystems - separates subsystems from one another.
Rigid Boundary
Structural
Minuchin
Overly rigid boundaries don’t allow outside subsystem engagement - leads to disengagement
Diffuse Boundary
Structural
Minuchin
Permeable/fluid contact with other subsystems - can lead to enmeshment
Clear Boundary
Structural
Minuchin
Btwn parents/kids: establishes parents as leaders. Allows interaction, supports couple in separate realtionships. Healthy families have clear hierarchical boundaries.
Disengaged Systems
Structural
May be independent or isolated.
Enmeshed Systems
Structural
Can get affection/nurturance w/in system, but risks autonomy, outside relationships.
Complementary
Structural
Balanced relationship - 2 individuals. Not symmetrical but balanced
Hierarchy
Structural
Physical structure of a family - determined by rules, boundaries, interactional patterns
Intervening
Structural
Therapist’s role - step in/step out to unbalance or raise intensity.
Conflict Management
Structural
Family’s capacity to resolve conflict, find solutions
Coalitions
Structural
2 family members join - against one or several others
Joining & Accommodating
Structrural
Phase 1 of treatment. Establish therapeutic relationship. Adopt the family’s communication pattern and mannerisms to create comfort.
Mimesis
Structural
Phase 1 of treatment - joining - when therapist takes on motions, movements, body language to create trusting space.
Intensity
Structural
Changing the intensity in session by shifting tone, language, repetition, etc.
Planning
Structural
Assessment in Structural - hypothesize about family structure, remain curious about actual structure.
Enactments
Structural
Directed by therapist - Family experiments with different ways of behaving. HEre and now.
Spontaneous Behavioral Sequences
Structural
Similar to enactment, except not directed by therapist.
Challenging Family Assumptions
Structural
Therapist offers different views of what’s going on with the family.
Challenging the Symptom
Structural
Therapist offers new way of perceiving the symptom
Reframing
Structural & Strategic
Affective Intensity
Structural
Increasing the emotional intensity to shift the structure change
Shaping Competence
Structural
Changing the direction of interactions - pointing out what they are doing right in order to increase competence.
