Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapy

Dr. ArraDr. Arra

PSY 202PSY 202

Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapyTHEORYTHEORY First developed by Alfred Adler in Vienna First developed by Alfred Adler in Vienna

in the 1920’sin the 1920’s Took root in America in the 40’s – 60’sTook root in America in the 40’s – 60’s Many approaches to therapy (adlerian, Many approaches to therapy (adlerian,

multigenerational, structural, experiential)multigenerational, structural, experiential) States that individuals are best States that individuals are best

understood within the context of understood within the context of relationships and through assessing the relationships and through assessing the various interactions within an entire various interactions within an entire familyfamily

Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapy Symptoms are viewed as an Symptoms are viewed as an

expression of a dysfunction within expression of a dysfunction within a family and are often passed a family and are often passed across generationsacross generations

Therefore, the clients problematic Therefore, the clients problematic behavior may serve a function or behavior may serve a function or purpose for the familypurpose for the family

May be a function of the family’s May be a function of the family’s inability to operate productivelyinability to operate productively

Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapy Can be a symptom of dysfunctional Can be a symptom of dysfunctional

patterns handed down across generationspatterns handed down across generations Change by the client reverberates Change by the client reverberates

throughout the other parts of the familythroughout the other parts of the family Because a family is an interactional unit, it Because a family is an interactional unit, it

is best to treat the whole familyis best to treat the whole family Best to assess an individual by observing Best to assess an individual by observing

the interactions with and mutual influences the interactions with and mutual influences of other family membersof other family members

Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapy Therapists believe that to focus on Therapists believe that to focus on

the internal dynamics of an individual the internal dynamics of an individual without adequately considering without adequately considering interpersonal dynamics as well yields interpersonal dynamics as well yields an incomplete picturean incomplete picture

The family provides a primary context The family provides a primary context for understanding how individuals for understanding how individuals function in relationship to others function in relationship to others outside the familyoutside the family

Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapy Parents and children become Parents and children become

locked in repetitive and negative locked in repetitive and negative interactions interactions

Thought the problems of one Thought the problems of one family are common to all others family are common to all others in the communityin the community

Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapyKEY CONCEPTS:KEY CONCEPTS:FAMILY ATMOSPHEREFAMILY ATMOSPHERE Defined as the climate of relationships Defined as the climate of relationships

that exist between peoplethat exist between people Each member exerts an influence on Each member exerts an influence on

every other memberevery other member A ‘climate’ or ‘atmosphere’ develops A ‘climate’ or ‘atmosphere’ develops

that is said to characterize how the that is said to characterize how the family relates to one anotherfamily relates to one another

Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapyFAMILY CONSTELLATIONFAMILY CONSTELLATION Constellation consists of parents, Constellation consists of parents,

children, and extended familychildren, and extended family Birth orderBirth order Constellation can give therapist a Constellation can give therapist a

written description of how a person written description of how a person finds a place within the systemfinds a place within the system

Therapists can ask parents to describe Therapists can ask parents to describe each childeach child

Genogram (3 generational family map)Genogram (3 generational family map)

Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapy

MISTAKEN GOALSMISTAKEN GOALS Goals of children’s misbehaviorGoals of children’s misbehavior Attention getting, power struggle, Attention getting, power struggle,

revengerevenge Therapist looks at parents actions Therapist looks at parents actions

and reactions to these behaviorsand reactions to these behaviors

Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapy

GOALS OF THERAPYGOALS OF THERAPY Establish and support parents as Establish and support parents as

effective leaders of the familyeffective leaders of the family Replace automatic, often unconscious, Replace automatic, often unconscious,

negative interactions with a conscious negative interactions with a conscious understanding of the family processunderstanding of the family process

Encourage functional family Encourage functional family interactioninteraction

Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapy

THERAPISTS ROLE AND FUNCTIONTHERAPISTS ROLE AND FUNCTION Therapists are collaborators who Therapists are collaborators who

work to join the family from a work to join the family from a position of mutual respectposition of mutual respect

Therapists investigate the family Therapists investigate the family constellation, the motivations constellation, the motivations behind problematic interactions, behind problematic interactions, the family process throughout the the family process throughout the typical daytypical day

Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapy Develop interventions and Develop interventions and

recommendations recommendations Correct faulty goals; look at the Correct faulty goals; look at the

motivation behind the goalsmotivation behind the goals Provide parents with parenting Provide parents with parenting

skillsskills

Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapyTECHNIQUESTECHNIQUES Problem description and goal identificationProblem description and goal identification Typical day: ask the family describe a typical Typical day: ask the family describe a typical

day; this assesses family atmosphere and day; this assesses family atmosphere and interactioninteraction

Parent interviews: yield tentative hypotheses Parent interviews: yield tentative hypotheses regarding children’s misbehaviorregarding children’s misbehavior

Child interviews: find out what goals of Child interviews: find out what goals of misbehavior aremisbehavior are

Encouragement: used with both parents and Encouragement: used with both parents and childrenchildren

Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapy

STRENGTHSSTRENGTHS Comprehensive process in assisting Comprehensive process in assisting

familiesfamilies Looks at many aspects of the family Looks at many aspects of the family

(i.e., atmosphere, constellation, goals)(i.e., atmosphere, constellation, goals) Respect is given to both children and Respect is given to both children and

adultsadults Interventions are suggested to children Interventions are suggested to children

and adultsand adults

Family Systems Family Systems TherapyTherapy

WEAKNESSESWEAKNESSES How much insight can children How much insight can children

provideprovide Parents feigning or embellishingParents feigning or embellishing Provides much insight into Provides much insight into

behavior, interactions, and behavior, interactions, and motivation, but not many explicit motivation, but not many explicit interventionsinterventions