You did a good job pointing out the structural family therapy and the systems within the family structure. How structural family therapy understand a family system is when the family system is stabilized by each family members contribution to the family system as a whole. By each member’s contribution, the subsystems hierarchy is set and power or who is in charge is allocated within the appropriate individuals/subsystems. The subsystems they rely on each other and more is expected from one person than another (Becvar & Becvar,2013). So for example: A couple dates and a year later yet married. Six months after getting married the woman finds out she is pregnant and nine months later a child is born. There is now a shift in the family system. Roles are now set in place and the mother is the nurture and the father becomes the disciplinarian as the child…
Harry Aponte’s extensive resume and association with Minuchin’s work of structural therapy has assisted him with developing a unique therapist style that has prepared him to work with various backgrounds. Mr. Aponte is not afraid to ask the questions necessary to strength the family structure. In addition, he is willing to challenge the family to be open about their dysfunctional structure and provides avenues to a solution. Mr. Aponte strength is the ability to quickly join the family structure which is the first therapeutic technique in SFT. Due to Mr. Harry’s direct questioning, he produced a variety of feelings and thoughts within the Taylor family. During the session, the family experienced: sadness, avoidance, happiness, understanding…
This article presents the Brief Strategic Family Therapy and its contribution to the treatment of adolescent drug abusers. The article defines and shows intervention steps to assist with understanding that the BSFT is the “bedrock” of a child’s development and can have the greatest influence on the behavior and development of the adolescent. The authors questioned if whether BSFT should be provided as an alternative strategy or as an “add on” service for substance abuse treatment. The article challenged the researchers and practitioners to think about each other roles and the importance that each role has in the betterment of treatment and the outcome of the client. Clinical practice will be more effective due to the increase in relationship…
Structural Family Therapy (SFT) is a method of psychotherapy developed by Salvador Minchin that focuses on the family dynamics. It is considered the most influential family therapy worldwide according to Stupart (2014). The primary purpose of the different approaches to the psychotherapy is to help people feel differently, and change their thinking and behavior (Stupart 2014). The goal of SFT is to join the family system in therapy to determine any dysfunctional relationships and how to heal them while reestablishing the family unity. This is achieved by simply by modifying the way the family interacting with other and by developing appropriate boundaries.…
his article describes a systematic program of research that focuses on Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) and the adaptations that were developed based on BSFT principles. The culture-specific origins of BSFT are reviewed, as well as its broader applications to the field of family therapy. Research is reviewed demonstrating that BSFT is a promising family-based approach to treating Hispanic youth behavior problems and drug abuse. Treatment innovations are described that address the combination of intergenerational and cultural differences that occur among youths and their Hispanic parents. Programmatic work is described that challenges basic principles of family therapy by expanding BSFT to a One Person modality and a strategic engagement…
Understanding how a family works and interacts is the key objective of a therapist. In…
Structural family therapy (SFT) is rooted in family systems theory, but it is unique in its focus on family structure and its preference for remaining grounded in the here and now (Vetere, 2001, p. 133). For structural family therapists, family wholeness is the most important goal and individual symptoms are viewed as the result of dysfunctional family transactions (Lappin & Minuchin, 2011). When the family structure is reorganized, the family can interact functionally and harmoniously (M. Reed, personal communication, July 28, 2015). This paper explains the structural theory of family dysfunction, the conditions necessary for change, the primary goals of SFT, the role of the structural family therapist, and the multicultural and gender implications…
Nichols, M. P. (2012). Family therapy: Concepts and methods. (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ.: Pearson Education Inc.…
This research paper will in detail find influences donating to the degeneration of African American marriages, increase of African American divorces, and how structural family therapy can impact it. Structural Family Therapy was developed by Salvador Minuchin and his associates in the 1960s due to the growing curiosity in alternative ways of hypothesizing suffering and familial dilemmas. Structural family therapy is reinforced by an undoubtedly expressed model of family functioning, and has been developed and used reliably in counseling sessions for children and their families (Ginginch & Worthington, 2007, 343). Also, this report will examine what can be done to change this disturbing status amongst African American families. Monetary, emotional, and cognitive stability are a few of the common reasons and profits of marriage. Studies have discovered that marital couples in contrast to unattached couples are better-off, healthier, less stressed, and tend to live well into their mid-80s (Pindgerhughes, 2002, p. 269). Thus, there are numerous welfares of being married; it could be assumed that matrimony would be a shared objective for most citizens regardless of race. However, studies have publicized a radical deterioration of marriages inside the African…
Also, the therapists can only help that through this whole process that an individual can obtain more insight on their situation and begin to understand the start of their challenges and motivations that they are not aware of which determine their behaviors. Another goal would be that each member gain the therapeutic factor of corrective recapitualition of the primary family experience in order to fight the challenges that have created obstacles in their past. In relation to the journal article, these all could be addressed when the group works together in various…
review of the literature, our research team met to discuss key factors relating to family therapy…
The therapist will help the family learn to communicate by modeling and many different exercises that will help them develop better communication skills. The structural approach is used when the family structure is out of balance. The family therapist will help align the family structure by establishing the roles and responsibilities of each family member. The family systems approach is used when the family is not working as a team, but as an individual entity. A family connection and boundaries must be set with the help of the therapist for this approach to be successful. The strategic family approach will help families develop rules and spread out the power within the family dynamic. The family therapist will also help a family work on a pattern of behavior that is appropriate for each family. A therapist will use tools from behavior therapy and behavior modification therapy with the social learning approach. This approach helps members of a family cope with issues and teach them basic skills in communicating, interacting, and behaving as a family unit. A family therapist will use the narrative approach when helping the family identify and describe their problems by comparing them to stories, fables, movies, etc. (Shearor, Horejsi, & Horejsi,…
For almost ninety years, marriage and family therapy continue to change in the United States. It is a thriving career with significant benefits. With all of the families and marriages broke apart over the years, having the ability to help would be so rewarding.…
Collaborative therapy comes from the postmodern view that a person’s reality and truth differs within individuals (Anderson, 2007, p. 8). A person constructs their reality based on their personal views, thoughts, feelings, and experiences. One important aspect of postmodern is language. Anderson adds that through language, one is able to make sense of the world therefore creating their reality (p. 9). In addition to the use of language, words have different meanings to each person.…
In general, family systems therapy works to decrease family stress, as well as helping members become more distinguished, and change coalitions and alliances in the family to bring about modification. These focal points are determined through certain strategies to reach goals in as well as to develop new styles of resolving problems. Family systems theory rely on members becoming healthy and differentiated the family unit begins to change and adapt and in a healthy approach, this leads to better functioning and relating between…