Family Systems Therapy

There are several therapist that founded the family systems therapy approach, starting with the originator, Alfred Adler. He was the first person to innitiate family therapy with a systemic approach. Other founders include Murray Bowen, Virginia Satir, Carl Whitaker, Salvador Minuchin, Jay Haley, and Cloe Madanes.

Deep inside us we know what every family therapist knows: the problems between the parents become the problems within the children.

-Roger Gould

There are several different forms of family systems therapy. The six viewppoints are:

Adlerian Family Therapy

Multigenerational Family Therapy

Human Validation Process Model

Experiential/Symbolic Family Therapy

Structural Family Therapy

Strategic Family Therapy

Each model has it's own founders and specific goals, processes and techniques. Though they are all slightly different, the main goal of family systems therapy is to help families see what is not working in their relationships with eachother and guide them to creating new was to interact.

The key concepts of this therapy method differ between approaches, but include differentation, triangles, power coalitions, family of origin dynamics, functional vs. dysfunctional interaction patterns, and dealing with the here and now. communication patterns are focused on within all constucts of this therapy method, both verbal and nonverbal.

Techniques are also different between the different viewpoints. Adlerian may look at goal disclosure, and natural/logical consequesnces. Multigeneraltional will look at the genograms and family of origin issues. Human Validation focuses on empathy, touch, and communication. Experiential/Symbolic uses a self as change agent ad focuses on co-therapy, confrontation, and self-disclosure. In structural therapy, you'll see enactments, boundry making, and tracking, and joining and accomodating. Strategic family therapy will use reenactments, pretending, amplifying, and reframing.

OK, so this clip is not at all indicative of what family therapy should be...but it was funny, I was in a bad mood, and it made me laugh!

Reference

Corey, G. (2013). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. Belmont, C.: Brooks/Cole,
Cengage Learning.