¶ … family therapy models, diagnosis and principles are compared based upon Bowen's Transgenerationaland/Family Systems model with Minuchin's Family therapy. Later on, we will see the link between the two and the relationship of each model to divorce. In the case study, we will attempt to apply the lessons of the Bowen/Ackerman and Minuchin style approaches to get to the underlying causes of a patient's depressive disorder.
The goal of the counseling session from the family therapist would be to aid the psychiatric team. Depression is simply a condition that reflects underlying issues. In this case, the patient's past home life and separation of her parents have caused abuse and bereavement issues to be dealt with more effectively and to break the triggers that bring about the onset of depression. This is especially necessary, since the abuse issues and bereavement caused by the loss (or lack) of a caring father figure in her life have made drug therapy only marginally successful.
A.) Models, Diagnosis and Principles (Overview)
Family therapy is based upon understanding how families work and interact. To understand this basic principle is the key objective of every therapist.
During the past seventy years, the family therapy movement has tried to understand the family. Adler and Sullivan were the pioneers who laid the foundations of the discipline and began the task of applying Freud's theories in the psycho-dynamic arena (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2008, 150-151). Ackerman went further by attempting to more systematically apply Freud to family therapy (ibid, 155).
Psychoanalysis was taken further to try to plumb the depths of the mystery of family relations. In the light of Freud's research, Dr. Murray Bowen attempted to further uncover how unresolved conflicts from the past of a family continue to affect it in the present. The Bowen school introduced the hypothesis that many mental illnesses are simply the result of dysfunctional family system patterns. Bowen was one of the first to advocate and treat the whole family and their emotional system rather than treating a single member with his or her personal behaviors or emotions.
Beyond this, Bowen pioneered transgenerational patterns that have laid the foundation to help clients to identify the root of their family problems and search for a way to break those cycles (ibid, 175-178).
Family therapists discovered the emotional process in which a person is involved and how this matters to the patient. They focused on individual growth and the development of a person's self-esteem. This is one of the most basic and primary concepts of a human being in a family relationship.
On the other hand, cognitive-behavioral family therapists predict that illogical beliefs work as the principal triggers for a family's emotional distress
. Both schools have provided a unique advances to our understandings of interactions within the family unit (ibid).
B.) Comprehensive coverage of Transgenerational and Structural Models & Principles
In this paper transgenerational models and the structural family therapy models will be presented in more detail. First, we will consider the transgenerational model as pursued by Bowen and others. Then, we will consider the Minuchin model of structural models and principles.
Transgenerational theory contains 8 key elements. These include triangles, differentiation of self, nuclear family emotional system, family projection process, multigenerational transmission process, emotional cutoff, sibling position and societal emotional process (ibid, 178-190). Bowen stressed how important family relational patterns over time are. The relational patterns constitute a strong influence over the lives of an individual and the family that noticing them is crucial to become a differentiated person. This is by definition is a person that possesses a capacity for reflective thinking. Such a person does not respond automatically to emotional pressure, be it external or internal. Genograms are crucial to mapping these relationships so that patterns can be drawn and the patient can be effectively treated (ibid, 192). Briefly will follow some of what the author feels are the more important of Bowen's work.
Much of the therapy is based around the concept of differentiation of self. Through this concept, a therapist can assess a patient's capability to preserve their strong sense of self-
identity. This can be done while maintaining a natural attachment to his or her family system.
The term differentiation is used by Bowen as a synonym for maturity. This has been wrongly understood as meaning a person who is autonomous, disconnected or separated from others. In the post-modern critique, feminists who did not agree with...
Shift From First-order to Second-Order Cybernetics in the Family and Systemic Therapies The strategic family therapy model came up in the 1950s and was inspired by two primary works: the works of Milton Erickson who came up with revolutionary paradoxical interventions which took advantage of people's resistance to change to help alter psychiatric symptoms first; and the works of Gregory Bateson and the Palo Alto Group that made use of
Psycho-educational Models of Family Therapy and Transgenerational Models of Family Therapy in Correlation to Physical and Sexual Violence and Abuse Molestation, commonly known as sexual abuse, is defined as forced sexual behavior by one individual with another. However, sexual assault is one which is not so frequent, lasts for short duration, and is immediate. Pejoratively, sexual abuser or offender is referred as a molester. It also means any act on behalf
Psychology of Marriage and Family Systems The literal meaning of the word "psychopathology" is a mind disorder or disease. Psychological diagnosticians, while assuming that the illness is located inside a person, always use the medical model in treating or studying patients with 'mental illnesses'. In comparison with the approach they take, I present two converging and related psychopathology perspectives. The two perspectives give an analysis based on context from the family's
Family Therapy Treatment of Mental Illness There has been a growing movement towards the use of family therapy methods for the treatment of mental illness in recent years. To determine the facts about this trend, this paper provides a review of the relevant literature concerning family therapy treatment of mental illness in three sections. In Section 1, a discussion concerning the views of O'Hanlon and Rowan's (2003) and Zeig and Munion
Family Nurse Practioner Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in family surburban clinic The paper provides information on an advanced nursing role (Family Nurse Practitioner). It consists of the requirements of the nursing role in terms of certification, education qualifications, and also the persons responsible for certifying nurses for this role. The paper discusses the job duties associated with the practice. It creates the understanding of collaborative associations that promote success of the nursing
...in the end 'the addict has to want to change' and if the addict does not want to change it does not matter what program..." that the addict is in. (National Institute of Justice, 2005) the National Institute of Justice reports that a woman "often retains legal custody of a child while in prison, and once out, may not have the child immediately returned to her by the family member
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now