Family Systems Therapy

The family is viewed from an interactive and systemic perspective. Clients are connected to a living system; a change in one part of the system will result in a change in other parts. The family provides the context for understanding how individuals function in relationship to others and how they behave. Treatment deals with the family unit. An individual’s dysfunctional behavior grows out of the interactional unit of the family and out of larger systems as well. (Gerald Corey)

Key People and their contributions

  Alfred Adler was the first psychologist to do family therapy. Adlerian therapy is actually the second post I made here on this little ole blog. You can read about him HERE 

Mulch-Generational Family Therapy (Murray Bowen): Focuses on the past and present of family mainly the last three generations. Works on decreasing anxiety and changing the individual person within the family. The therapist works as the guide and teacher. The therapy process involves questions that help the family understand the family origins. It uses genograms, family issues, processing issues through relationships.  

Human Validation Process Model (Virginia Satir):  Focused on the here and now. Promotes growth and self-esteem. Really focuses in helping the family reach clear communication and interaction. The therapist models the behavior for the family they counsel. They are active on the process of reaching therapy goals. The therapist assist the family going from status quo- chaos - new possibilities. To get through therapy successfully HVP therapist might use role modeling, touch/empathy, family life chronology.

Experiential/Symbolic Family Therapy (Carl Whitaker): This therapy is focused on the now. Whitaker encourages the family in spontaneity, play, being creative. The therapist acts as the coach and models through play. Therapy techniques encourages and includes self-disclosure, confrontation, and change starts with each person. 

Structural Family Therapy (Salvador Minichin):  Focuses on past and present in the family while confronting dysfunctional roles and changing them. Salvador saw the therapist being the "friendly uncle" or the one who promotes the change in the family. While the therapist leads the family makes new boundaries and changes structure. The techniques involves the therapist/leader to set up boundaries and tracking the family in the changes.

Strategic Family Therapy (Jay Haley & Cloe Madanes): This therapy focuses on the present and the future. The therapist act as the leader and problem solver. SFT works to resolve the problem and keep it from happening again. Some of the techniques are action orientated, role playing, changing behaviors, and reframing the dysfunction in the family. 

Here are some videos you might find interesting... (giggle)

OK one more :)

At about 6 minutes the WHOLE family goes :) Love this show! 

On a more serious note...

Postmodern Approaches

Based on the premise that here are multiple realities and multiple truths, postmodern therapies reject the idea that reality is external and can be grasped. People create meaning in their lives through conversations with others. The postmodern approaches avoid pathologizing clients, take a dim view of diagnoses, avoid searching for underlying causes of problems, and place a high value on discovering clients strengths and resources. Rather than talking about problems, the focus of therapy is on creating solutions in the present and the future. (Gerald Corey)

Postmodern therapy has no "one" developer. It has been an effort of several people. Here are some KEY PEOPLE. 

Insoo Berg 

Steve de Shazer

Michael White

David Epston

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

• Key Concepts
• Not focused on the "why" there is a problem
• Believe that everyone in general are healthy people but we just "lose" our way
• They don't focus on the problem - but rather what is going "right" in the clients life  
• Personal consultation 
• Therapeutic Process & Techniques and Procedures
• Therapist and client can form one of these relationships (according to de Shazer)
• Customer- client and therapist on the same 'track' with the problem, goals, and solutions
• Complainant- client is basically attributing a solution to some one else and not seeing themselves be apart of the solution
• Visitor-  the client comes to therapy because some one has influenced them to be there and they cannot see their problem
•  Pretherapy Change
• Exception Questions: When did this problem not exist?
•  Miracle Question: What if by some miracle your problem disappeared, how would you feel? What would be different?
• Scaling questions: Rate 1 to 10 your anxiety level when your first came to therapy and how you feel now?
• Formula First Session Task: Having the clients do homework that will tell the therapist what they like to continue in their relationship dynamics
• Therapist feedback to clients: In SFBT the therapist will take the last five minutes  of the session to write a summary message that includes compliments, bridge, and suggesting a task.
• Terminating- Ending the therapist and client relationship

 

Narrative Therapy

• Key Concepts
• It is very person-centered. The therapist is apart of a 'journey' with the client that involves questioning that makes the client re-tell things from their perspective when they felt they were more reresourceful then they are at the time if therapy. The therapist is not to make diagnoses, judgment, or blame. Keeping the belief that ALL people are good natured and can stand up to any oppression. The therapist takes notes to key points but still remains VERY open minded.  
• Therapeutic techniques, procedures, and process 
• Questions
• Externalization and Deconstruction
• Search for unique outcomes
• Alternative stories and reauthoring
• Documenting the evidence   

 

Reality Therapy

Source

William Glasser was the initial developer of Reality Therapy/Choice Theory in the 1960's. You can read up on him HERE
and HERE

source

Robert Wubbolding is the developer of WEDP system CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO :)

Reality therapy is derived from Choice Theory

What is Choice theory?  

• It believes we born with 5 needs

 

• bel ieves we have out "quality world" where our values, wants, beliefs, 
• It believes that everything we do from the time we are born to death we choose, every choice is to gain a need we have or to fulfill it

Glasser took this theory of his and applied it to a therapy... Reality Therapy

Reality therapist are more focused on the now and sometimes future but really aren't concerned with the past. It can be confrontational when practicing this because you could be pointing out some irrational beliefs and the client might not care for that. 

Reality Therapist...

• Focus on responsibility and choice
• Reject transference
• Focus on the now
• Not worried about symptoms
• Challenge traditional veiws on mental illness

The therapist is there to guide and cause the client to self-evaluate. The therapist ask thought provoking questions. One reality therapist came up with a module for reality therapy...

Wubbolding created WDEP system which basically shows you the process of reality therapy. 

1. W ants
2. D oing and direction
3. E valution
4. P  planning (SAMIC)
• Simple, attainable, measurable, immediate, involved, controlled, committed, and consisitantly done.

Here is a couple videos showing a session of role playing with a reality therapist

  

 

Helpful Links 

http://www.realitytherapywub.com/

http://wglasser.com/the-glasser-approach/choice-theory
http://www.realitytherapywub.com/