Integrated Systemic Family Therapy
Narrative Therapy An Integrated Outcome?
Introduction
Systemic therapy was based on Minuchin’s Structural Therapy model (1968) followed by Bateson's cybernetic model (1972) The first order cybernetic model considerd that problems within a family system should be focused on by strategically solving problems, meeting family goals and help change a person's dysfunctional behaviour. D Shazer (1985). These concepts in Systemic therapy were known as the major paradigms and were taught by therapists such as Minuchin in Milan until the information-processing systems were introduced. They were characterized by the therapist's observation of the system from the external social world. Minuchin S & Fisherman,HC (1981)
Systemic Family therapy subsequently included the concept of Constructivism, Second-Order Cybernetics and Social Constructionism. Inherent in this body of thought is the notion that we construct our own understanding of the problem with associated meanings which is shared with other people, as opposed to looking for an objective ‘truth’ about the situation, J. Fenwick (2006) This was a change from the former ‘thinking’ that external reality was ‘knowable’. In terms of Systemic family therapy, Therapists now had a view of ‘reality’, as something that can be created through language in an ongoing relational process. Therefore inherent discourse reflecting the ideals of the social world provides an active process of shared meanings or metaphors which create the Narratives for families as well as individuals .White (2006)
The Systemic Narrative therapy was developed mainly in the 1980s by Micheal White a therapist trained in the Milan school of Family Therapy. Narrative therapy is a therapeutic way of understanding problems with associated shared meanings and metaphors and their effects on people’s lives. These ideas are very different from the structural and strategic family systemic therapy taught in Milan. M White (2000)
The common assumptions
Introduction
Systemic therapy was based on Minuchin’s Structural Therapy model (1968) followed by Bateson's cybernetic model (1972) The first order cybernetic model considerd that problems within a family system should be focused on by strategically solving problems, meeting family goals and help change a person's dysfunctional behaviour. D Shazer (1985). These concepts in Systemic therapy were known as the major paradigms and were taught by therapists such as Minuchin in Milan until the information-processing systems were introduced. They were characterized by the therapist's observation of the system from the external social world. Minuchin S & Fisherman,HC (1981)
Systemic Family therapy subsequently included the concept of Constructivism, Second-Order Cybernetics and Social Constructionism. Inherent in this body of thought is the notion that we construct our own understanding of the problem with associated meanings which is shared with other people, as opposed to looking for an objective ‘truth’ about the situation, J. Fenwick (2006) This was a change from the former ‘thinking’ that external reality was ‘knowable’. In terms of Systemic family therapy, Therapists now had a view of ‘reality’, as something that can be created through language in an ongoing relational process. Therefore inherent discourse reflecting the ideals of the social world provides an active process of shared meanings or metaphors which create the Narratives for families as well as individuals .White (2006)
The Systemic Narrative therapy was developed mainly in the 1980s by Micheal White a therapist trained in the Milan school of Family Therapy. Narrative therapy is a therapeutic way of understanding problems with associated shared meanings and metaphors and their effects on people’s lives. These ideas are very different from the structural and strategic family systemic therapy taught in Milan. M White (2000)
The common assumptions
References: 1, BYNG-HALL J (1995) Re-Writing Family Scripts Improvisations and Systems Change Guildford Press 2. DE SHAZER. S (1985) Keys to Solution in Brief Therapy (W.W.Norton) 3 4. HAYWARD M (1996) A Constructivist Position for Family Therapy The Irish Journal of Psychology 9:1 110 -129 5.MCNAMEE S & GERGAN K J (Ends) (1994) Therapy as Social Construction, London (Edition No 2) Sage 6. MORGAN ALICE (2000) What is Narrative Therapy? Dulwich Centre 7 MINUCHIN S & FISHERMAN HC (1981) Family therapy Techniques Harvard 10 WHITE M & EPSSTON D (1990) Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends New York Norton 11