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Introduction to Family Systems Therapy
- -basic assumptions- individuals problems are best understood within the context of their social system (couple, family, workplace)
- -social systems each have their own specific dynamics
- -dynamics of the system often overpower the individual
- -system is organized to maintain stability/equilibrium
- -members have roles within the system (fragile, trouble maker, care taker)
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How are problem behaviors viewed?
- -members get stuck in unhealthy, repetitive patterns
- -individuals symptoms can be functional to system
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Problem behavior may...
- -serve a purpose for the system
- -be unintentially maintained by the dynamics of the system
- -be a function of the systems inability to operate effectively
- -be a system of dysfunctional patterns taught across generations
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Theraputic Prinicples
- -change to any part of the system will effect everyone in the system
- -get members to see they are part of a larger dynamic
- -identify ways to change maladaptive patterns of behavior and communication
- -more people out of limiting roles
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Phases of therapy
- -form a relationship (joining)
- -conduct an assessment (family assessment interview, genograms
- -hypothesizing and sharing meaning
- -facilitation change
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Useful lenses to assess the system dynamics
Teleological
- -focuses on motivations, purpose, function of behavior
- -what motivates the individual behavior
- -does it serve a purpose for the system?
- -benefits to having problems
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Organization lens
- -focuses on the leadership, power, and hierarchy of a system
- -functional when all members have some say and responsibility based on maturity and life experience
- -typically best with parents in more power w more power shifting to children as they grow older
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Process lens
- -focuses on patterns of communication
- -what is the family doing with their time in therapy?
- -what is the pattern of communication? verbal or non verbal
- -reactions as a therapist
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Sequence Lens
- -family members tend to interact in patterns of events
- -different levels
- 1. face to face
- 2. daily routines
- 3. developmental changes
- 4. transgenerational
- -developing adaptive, functional, fair, balanced sequences
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Developmental Lens
- -focuses on the traditional phases of a family
- -single adult..married couple...children...adolescent...children leave home...adult children care for parent
- -focus on managing adjustments to new phase
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Multicultural/Gender lens
- -focus on ethnic, racial, ses, gender, age
- -what is the families ethnic, cultural, racial, religious background
- -interact with dominant society?
- -system beliefs about gender, ethnic, age roles
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Strengths
- -cross-cultural applications
- -takes the blame off of individuals
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Weaknesses
-in earlier forms, therapist had a great deal of power
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