Family Systems Therapy

Founded By:

Alfred Adler (1870-1937)



Murray Bowen (1913-1990)

Other Founders: Virginia Satir, Carl Whitaker, Salvador Minuchin, Jay Haley, and Cloe Madanes

Key Concepts:

*Systemic therapists:
     *Explore the system for family process and rules, perhaps using a genogram
     *Invite the clients' family to therapy with them
     *Focus on the family relationships
     *Be concerned with transgenerational meanings, rules, cultural, and gender prespectives within
     the system, and even the community and larger systems affecting the family
     *Intervene in ways designed to help change the client's context
*Differentiation of self- Involves the psychological separation of intellect and emotion and independence of the self from others
*Structural family therapy-"Minuchin's central idea was that an individual's symptoms are best understood from the vantage point of interactional patterns, or sequences, within a family, and further, structural changes must occur in a family before an individual's symptoms can be reduced or eliminated" (Corey p. 440). 

Therapeutic Goals:

*"Specific goals are determined by the practitioner's orientation or by a collaborative process between family and therapist" (Corey p. 456).
*Interventions are used to enable the client and their family to change and reduce their distress.
*"Ultimately, every intervention a therapist makes is an expression of a value judgement" (Corey p. 456).

Techniques:

*"Personal characteristics such as respect for clients, compassion, empathy, and sensitivity are human qualities that influence the manner in which techniques are delivered" (Corey p. 456).
*"The central consideration is what is in the best interests of the family" (Corey p. 456).



Video of family systems therapy: http://youtu.be/mPW0UZd9gQ4

References

Corey, G. (2013). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

adler.ie "Alfred Adler"

ideastoaction.wordpress.com "Murray Bowen"

dss.mo.gov "Family Systems Therapy"

(2008, November 11). Family therapy. Video clip retrieved from http://www.youtube.com