Treatment 2 Flashcards
(113 cards)
general systems theory
system is an interaction of component parts, which seeks to attain homeostasis
2 theoretical models that have influenced family therapists
general systems theory
cybernetics
cybrenetics
focuses on the circular nature of feedback loops
feedback loops can be positive or negative
negative feedback loops
Cybernetics
tends to decrease deviation in a system
e.g. thermostat - fx to minimize changes in temperature; when temp rises, cooling systems bring it down and vice versa; thus maintaining homeostasis
positive feedback loops
cybernetics
increases deviation or change
e.g. lasting change in a family’s dynamics as a result of psychotherapy
psychodynamic family therapy
facilitating individual maturation in the context of the family system
freeing family members from unconscious patterns of anxiety and projection rooted in the past
major emphasis: helping family members clarify communication and admit honest feelings
Lidz two deviant types of marital relationships
marital schism and marital skew
lead to impaired parenting and disrupted sex-role learning for the child
Marital schism
Lidz
severe, chronic discord and disequilibrium
threats of separation common and recurrent
communication centers on power struggles and efforts to avoid facing the schism between the spouses
parents tend to seek support from their children and attempt to diminish the worth of the parent to the childrne
Marital skew
Lidz
relationship skewed toward meeting the needs of one member at the expense of the needs of others
family sculpting
technique that can be used to address marital schism or marital skew
therapist interprets the sculpture and modifies it in ways to suggest new relationships
object relations family therapy
Framo
focuses on transferences and projections between couples or family members
problems caused when members unconsciously project unwanted elements of themselves onto others in the family
members experience dissatisfaction and try to change one another
therapy focuses on helping each family member become aware of what is being projected and address unwanted elements within each person
healthy family according to structural family therapy
healthy family - hierarchy with strong parental coalition on topmost level
boundaries clear and firm, yet there is flexibility in the system that allows for autonomy and interdependence, individual growth, and adaptive restructuring in response to developmental and environmental demands
StrUctural Family Therapy (U!)
MinUchin (U!)
family viewed as single, interrelated system
system assessed along variety of dimensions: hierarchy of power, clarify and firmness of boundaries, significant alliances and splits (subsystems)
pathological family according to structural family therapy
results from structural imbalances e.g. malfunctioning hierarchical arrangement or poor boundaries that are too rigid or too diffuse
three chronic boundary problems (Minuchin)
triangulation
detouring
stable coalition
triangulation
Minuchin
child caught in middle of parents’ conflict
each parent demands that child side with him/her
when child sides with one parent, viewed as attacking other
child ultimately becomes paralyzed
detouring
Minuchin
parents express their distress through one child, who becomes identified patient
creates false sense of harmony between parents, with parents blaming the child as source of family’s problems or united to protect sick, weak child
stable coalition
Minuchin
one parent unites with child against other parent in rigid cross-generational coalition
goal of Structural Family Therapy
unbalance or reorganize the family’s structure in such a way that dysfunctional elements are removed
therapist takes role as expert - diagnoses dysfunctional elements and develops interventions to correct them
therapist in structural family therapy
at outset - joins with family and attempts to understand family’s dynamics by adopting its style of interaction
therapy then focuses on shifting members’ positions in order to disrupt malfunctioning patterns and strengthen parental hierarchy, with goal of creating clear and flexible boundaries
Structural Family Therapy strategies for unbalancing family’s homeostasis
therapist taking sides, blaming, and forming coalitions
effectiveness of Structural Family Therapy
highly effective in treatment of asthma, diabetes, and anorexia in childhood and adolescence as well as treatment of adults with drug addictions
Communications Family Therapy
focuses on communication and its impact on family functioning
coined term “double bind”
double bind
Family Communications THerapy
maladaptive communication that typically involves at least three elements
1) injunction telling person if they do/don’t do something they will be punished
2) secondary injunction which is generally nonverbal, conflicting with the first at a more abstract level, also enforced by punishment
3) tertiary injunction prohibiting victim from escaping the field (e.g. by not allowing the victim to point out the inconsistency)