Introducing 

Prezi AI.

Your new presentation assistant.

Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.

Loading…
Transcript

Structural Family Theory

Focuses on the subsystems that make-up the family,

and not on the individual.

Salvador Minuchin

SFT is used most often in families that contain juvenile delinquents, anorexics, alcoholics, and low socio economic levels.

Minuchin developed the theory at Wiltwych School for the Boys as a way to correct the behavior of juvenile delinquents by involving their families.

According to Minuchin there are two type of families: enmeshed families that are too emotionally connected.

Disengaged families are not close at all.

The type of family determines whether the therapy focuses on the family as a whole, is child focused, or if the therapy is based on the parent.

Techniques Used in SFT

Enactment.

Structural Mapping

Reframing

Intermission

What makes SFT unique?

Minuchin theorized that the family is made up of subsystems and boundaries.

Subsystems are small groups within the family that keep it operating.

Sub systems are divided into: parental relationships, parent -child relationships, and sibling relationships.

The boundaries are set by the members of the group, and defines the sub systems purpose.

There are two main goals of SFT.

One is to maintain homeostasis.

The other is to restructure the family's operating parts.

  • Joining and Accommodating
  • Enactment
  • Structural mapping
  • Highlighting and Modifying Interactions
  • Boundary making
  • Unbalancing
  • Challenging Uproductive Assumptions

Boesky, D., (1990) Structural Theory. Psychoanalysis: The Major Concepts. Michigan: BookCrafters, Inc., 494-507.

Colapinto, J. (1982). Structural Family Therapy. Family Counseling and Therapy, 1-23.

Nichols, M. Background on Salvador Minuchin and Structural Family Therapy. Family

Therapy: Concepts and Methods,(6) 177-178.

Nichols, M. (2013). Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods. pearson Press. New Jersey.

Kohut, H. (1996). The Chicago Institute Lectures. New Jersey: The Analytic Press,

333-363.

Structural Family Therapy

Enactments

Unbalancing Techniques

Unbalancing Techniques

Reframing

Direction from a therapist to demonstrate how a particular problem is handled with the family. ( getting the family to talk with each other rather than the therapist) The therapist then observes the process and will also look for: Spontaneous behavior sequences – Specific actions already occurring within the family

Family members are encouraged to think for themselves

The goal is to change the relationship within

a subsystem

Therapist actually joins and supports one individual/subsystem

Brings to light the unvoiced conflict

Happens while in therapy –

Begins with complementing

Followed by a reframe

“I know your trying to help, but the more you

help, the less he learns to help himself, and I know you want him to be independent.”

This helps redraw boundaries and change the enmeshment/diffusion.

Subsystems

The emphasis on modifying family structure in the immediate context of the therapy setting.

Create new stable patterns and repeat them!

Refers to family structure –

Where do family members sit at dinner, around the TV, who do they go to..

Expectations and Family Rules – “What happens in the family, stays in the family”

Who takes care of who?

Who has what job?

Who’s the authority figure?

Sandy

Enmeshed and Disengaged Families

Families are diverse and different

Tim &

Its more complicated in that within the subsystem, there are subtle and not so subtle versions.

Typical Middle Class – Father disengaged due to work and mother enmeshed due to caregiving responsibilities.

Sarah

Final Presentation

In general...

SFT follows these steps:

Boundaries

Clear boundaries

Rules and habits that allow and encourage dialogue and thus help family members to enhance their communication and relationships with one another.

Rigid boundaries

Overly restrictive in that little contact with outside systems is permitted. They have inflexible rules and habits that keep family members separated from each other. Family members become emotionally detached.

diffuse boundaries

Structural arrangements that do not allow enough separation between family members. This results in some family members becoming fused and dependent on other family members.

Structural Family Therapy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PU-hTdkzg8

Therapeutic Techniques

Disengagement

Solution:

Therapist builds and alliance and develops trust,or not....

Complementarity: linear (blaming)

to circular discussions (what is my part?)

Joining And Accommodating.

Problem:

conflict avoidance

blaming

Active thinking while observing the family

1. Presenting Problem

2. Observing structural dynamics

Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging presentations with Prezi