| Family Systems Therapy Daniel M. Burrello According to Family Systems Theory, how does the personality become �sick� or maladjusted? Considering the idea of the individual as a leaf on a tree; if one has no idea how the tree functions, or even what kind of tree it is in relation to the others in the forest, or even what imminent dangers may be in effect for the tree, one is certainly missing a major part of one�s own functional understanding of why one behaves in certain ways. Family systems therapy is firmly based in systems theory and its ideas. In addition, the concepts of fractal mathematics and chaos theory with its emphasis on the holographic nature of things have had a certain impact on the development of family systems therapy. As one considers the mass psychology of sociologically connected groups, they are made up of smaller groups, which have their own group dynamics and psychology, and even smaller is the family unit, complete into itself but influence greatly by sociological ques, at the smallest level (it would seem) of this macrocosm to microcosmic view is the individual mind and it�s motivations, learned behaviors and innate structure. Another controversial and extra step is the one into the mind as a hologram, but that is a different paper. Family Systems Therapy sees this same paradigm, but from the inside out. Understanding the individual and his or her maladjustments is inextricable from learning the family system which nurtures (or fails to nurture) the person. Maladjustments occur due to the failures of support and communication within the family structure and healing can only be brought about through a complete understanding of these dynamics. Often the disorder or problem exhibited by the �identified client� is only a symptom of a larger family issue (Butcher, Carson, Mineka, 2002 p. 675). Dr. Murray Bowen, is usually credited as the creator of family systems theory and its application as therapy. Although, it is obvious that family systems therapy has a long and slow developmental curve through as diverse origins as the sociological work of depression-era clergy and even as far back as Mesmer, and the idea that language and family dynamics are a kind of trance inducing imprinting modality (Beels, 2002, p.5). Bowen, of Georgetown University, is credited as the individual who began in earnest to look at the family as a whole, in order to identify the hidden issues that cause maladjustment. Family systems theory focuses on family history as a method of understanding the sociological, biological, psychological, and inherent patterns at work in a person�s life. Family system therapists believe that through this process, individuals and families will further understand current behavior. What Are the Goals of Family Systems Therapy? Because Family Systems therapists believe that any change in the individual�s within a system changes the interaction between all the members, communication and feedback is vital. This communication can be either linear or circular with in the family units or individuals. Linear communication moves only one way and circular communication or feedback moves in any direction and to any and all of the individuals of a family system. Family systems therapy emphasizes circular feedback. The strongest emphasis in communication is on the process rather than the specific content of the communication. Fixing the phone system is more important than what is said. The infrastructure must exist first before any kind of meaningful dialogue, trialogue or debate can occur. What Interventions or Techniques are utilized in Family Systems Therapy to Achieve this Goal? There are many different family systems therapy methods. Some of these include strategic, solution focused, intergenerational, structural, experiential, and narrative. Many of the concepts now used in family systems therapy were first used as methods of treating schizophrenic children. There are several approaches from most disciplines. One of the most influential but controversial modes was first conceptualized by Virginia Satir, the once director of training at the Mental Research Institute and a social worker by vocation with years of experience working with families in her own practice in Chicago. She was greatly influenced by The �Human Potential Movement of her day and Fritz Perls� Gestalt therapy. Her �conjoint family therapy� emphasized improvement of faulty communication (Butcher, Carson & Mineka 2002, p. 674). Other Social Workers had a great impact on the development of Family Systems Therapy, including Braulio Montalvo of Philadelphia, Peggy Papp at Ackerman, Alice Cornelison at Yale University and others (Beels 2002 p.7) The object of the intergenerational approach to therapy is to help families reduce their stress level and to help family members become more differentiated. When thoughts and feelings are not differentiated, fusion occurs. If, in turn, there is inadequate differentiation, something called �triangulation� takes place. Triangulation happens when there is stress between two people in a system. They sometimes bring another into the conflict to alleviate some tension. The therapist attempts to triangulate in a differentiated way, all while attending to triangulation patterns in the family system. Before therapeutic intervention, often a �genogram� is created for family evaluation. This �genogram� is a method of diagramming family structure. It includes information about families such as genders, ages, marriage, death dates, and emotional patterns. The therapist then zeroes in on �triangles� within the family and the level of differentiation among family members. The therapist interprets information from the genogram and conveys it to the family members. Another Approach is �structural family therapy� (Minuchin, 1974). This method is strongly linked to systems theory. Its constant goal is to change the organization of the family in a way that family members will act more supportively and less pathogenically toward each other (Butcher, Carson & Mineka, 2002, p. 675). During therapy, the therapist acts in an active but not directive manner. She or he then gathers information about the family, a kind of structural map of family interactions, then, acting as a member of the family she or he participates as an insider. The goal here is to discover several things about the family: What kinds of boundaries are present? Who dominates the power structure? And, who carries the blame? With these questions answered, the therapist can then begin to alter the interaction among the family members. These interactions can often have transactional elements of enmeshment, over-protectiveness, rigidity, and poor conflict resolution skills. Many times the �identified client is the catalyst or turning point on which a conflict avoidance mechanism, hinges. Many therapists use behaviorally oriented therapies to help clients and their families. Role playing may be in order, sometime instruction, and sometimes other methods between family members help to move the family�s interactions to more reciprocal and positive. In Strategic therapy, the emphasis is on finding solutions to immediate problems rather than on finding insight. Strategic family system therapists interact among family members and concentrate on power. Concrete goal setting, assisted by the therapist, is emphasized as well. Guidelines and methods for attaining specific goal are outlined by the therapist. Feelings are emphasized in the humanistic approach to family therapy. Emotional experience and how those emotions interact in daily life is the key here. The therapist may ask the family members not to use the �I� statements. They also may be asked to level with one another, coordinate facial expressions, body positions and voice when communicating. Solution-focused therapists, as the name would suggest, focus on how the family views solutions to problems. These therapists are more concerned with solutions than on causal effects. Goals are small, concrete and clear so that actual progress is felt early. End of session �feedback� is often used here. Narrative therapists attempt to help a client family step back away from themselves and view the problems with fresh eyes. They emphasize positives and reward progress. In the widest of views, this form of therapy is very positively oriented. Behavioral approaches and structural family therapy have shown themselves to be the preferred approach to family systems therapy, in both early on (Gurman & Kniskern, 1978) and current (Shadish et.al., 1993) studies. References Beels, C. (2002). Notes for a cultural history of family therapy Family Process, Spring, 2002. Butcher, Carson, & Mineka (2002). Abnormal psychology and modern life. Needham Heaights MA: Allyn and Bacon Gurman, A. & Kniskern, D. (1978). Reaseacrh on marital and family therapy: Progress, perspective and prospect. In S.L. Garfield & A. E. Bergibn (Eds.), Handbook of psycholtherapy and behavior change . New York: Wiley. Gladding, S. (1997) . Family therapy history, theory, and practice. Upper Saddle River NJ : Prentice Hall. Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Shadish, W.R. Montgomery, L. Wilson, P. Wilson, M. Bright, I. & Okwumabua. (1993) Effects of family and marital psychotherapies: A Metaanalysis. 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