Families are said to constitute realities in which most of one’s attributes are constructed, based on the family interactions, beliefs, values as well as the behaviours that are seen in the specific families one is brought up into (Archer & McCarthy, 2007). However, even though most of one’s personal characteristics may be heavily influenced by their families; people do have a sense of individuality that makes them unique from any other person in the family (Becvar & Becvar, 2013). Therefore, one may argue that it is these differences that may cause misunderstandings in families. With this understanding, families often need help to resolve their predicaments, to be able to function together as a unit to different entities (Murdock, 2013). Scholars …show more content…
2. Postmodern approach to family therapy The postmodern approach to family therapy is believed to have forwarded a new way of thinking about families and relationships within a family structure. It was developed post the modernism approach and aimed to challenge some its views (Robideau, 2008). According to Robideau (2008), modernism emphasised the notion of the objective observer, which distinguished between the experts with knowledge and the families whose reality had to resemble what was defined as the functional family. With this approach, counsellors are seen as experts who ought to help families become what is defined as a functional family, and disregards the positive attributes of the family system (Robideau, 2008). Postmodernism is a theoretical approach that was introduced during the 1980s (Robideau, 2008). It rejects the idea of an expert, who alone possesses the true meaning and correct answers to what defines reality; it accepts that reality is a product of subjective experiences and perceptions, and will therefore have varied interpretations and definitions (Hertlein Lambert-Shute & Benson, …show more content…
Social constructionism Social constructionism places emphasis on the idea that reality is a product of the knowledge and perceptions that a group of people agree upon. It focuses on the construction of reality within groups (Robideau, 2008). For instance the meaning of what constitutes femininity may be similar across different South African cultures. This may serve as a guide for the South African communities, however with the progression of time, it is evident that the notion of femininity has evolved, which shows that reality is constructed through human relationships and interaction, and can change from time to time (Robideau, 2008). This is seen when the understanding of femininity evolved from females being expected to stay at home and ensure the well-being of the family; to the present times, where women can be employed and contribute to the financial stability of the family (Langen, 2005). In this way social constructionism can be said to helpful in family therapy in that it recognises the different values and perceptions upheld in large cultural or ethnic groups, and how they help define a functional family relative to a specific time in history (Robideau, 2008). It also recognises that the meaning and interpretation of a reality is created and can be altered through conversation (Robideau,
Applying Bowenian and Structural Theories Valencia W. Wright Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy HUMN – 6356 – 3 Dr. Emmett Roberts Walden University March 13, 2016 The Bowenian Therapy theory is multigenerational systems that is concentrated on the series of concepts and clinical. The creator of the Bowenian Therapy was Murray Bowen. The Bowenian therapy is somewhat like the Structural Family Theory because the both of them have steps that correlate together.
The case of Joe and Beth articulates that both are aware of the problems facing their relationship and knows why they have opted for counseling. It is clear that, Joe and Beth are not interested in what happened or where they have been; they are rather concerned with where they want be. In this case, both have agreed on a divorce, and; therefore, Solution-Focused Family Therapy is ideal because focuseson what the client wants or where the client wants to go and not on the clients past, or causes of the problems(Nelson, 2010). For this to happen, there is a need to let the client present the problem without having any intentions of understanding the cause of the problem or any pre-conceived ideas about the client’s
Stone writes about three essential functions of family stories– to pass on the family’s standards, to identify family characteristics, and coping strategies. The first of the three functions is the standards of the family since the family act as the “first culture,” teaching people what their family values and their opinions on certain situations like marriage and illness, mental or physical (Stone 384). The second factor is the family’s characteristics and their traits that bind them together, which act as the family member’s confidence boost (384). Furthermore, this boost makes them value themselves more than the next family, so that the family members contently remain together (384). The third factor is influencing how families cope; these “teaching stories” tell each family how to function outside of the family (385).
Moore asserts that family support shapes one’s identity
Most people belong to a family. Whether they like the people in their family, or not, really depends on the individual. Let it be known that “…all families can be looked at as dysfunctional; they just vary in terms of the degree and severity of dysfunction” (Shelley). Unfortunately, I can apply several dysfunctional family concepts to my most intimate, personal relationship-my marriage. Thus, the following is a compilation of dysfunctional family perceptions that I can apply to my own life.
Dr. Hawkins and Classmates, The therapist’s responsibility for a change when using a strategic family therapy model must stay joined with the parents and connected to the child. According to Goldenberg, Stanton and Goldenberg (2016) “Strategic therapies offers active and straightforward therapeutic interventions aimed at reducing or eliminating the presenting family problems or behavioral symptoms.” Therefore, the therapist will offer intervention to the family to aimed any presenting problems that they are experiencing. The therapist aims to change the conflict without the help of the family. MRI is a brief therapy principle process that helps individuals very fast with a positive outcome.
There is a growing complexity and diversity in families. Family systems theory provides a foundation for analysis of such complex and diversified families, making it easy to understand for effective therapy (Zastrow &
(1999). Bowen Family Systems Theory and Practice: Illustration and Critique. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy,20(2), 94-103. doi:10.1002/j.1467-8438.1999.tb00363.x Richardson, C. A., Gilleard, C. J., Lieberman, S., & Peeler, R. (1994).
Initiated by Jay Haley, with the purpose to change the aspects that are undesired by the family interaction or problematic behaviour by giving task in the form of paradoxical interventions. The symptoms are perceived has metaphoric way of feelings or behaviour in the family (Wedding & Corsini, 2014). The therapist duty is to observe the family relationship and its power and generate a goal (Sharf, 2012). The techniques used in this approach involve two of task, the most important are during the three sessions.
‘Traditional structural theories, Functionalism, Marxism, and Feminism assume the family being explained is the traditional nuclear family, this is not relevant any more, there is family diversity, changing gender roles and changing relationships between parents and children’ Using the extract evaluate the usefulness of Postmodernism for an understanding of the family (20) The postmodernist view on family is that we have broken away from modernity (traditional families) to postmodernity which contains negotiated families. A negotiated family is the idea that we negotiate and get what we want from a family, and the whole of the postmodernity view is that us an individual have a choice about what type of family they form a who is in it, the main theme is that there is more diversity in today’s families. Post 1980 was when postmodernity came about, and some of the types of families that emerged from this include same sex parents, lone parents, cohabitating couples etc.
According to our reading experiential therapy is use to facilitate creative experiences for family (Hecker, 2015). Furthermore therapist are to use their own personality, spontaneity and creativity in symbolic experiential family therapy (Hecker, 2015). Carl Whitcher a pioneer of this approach objective was to trigger anxiety among the families. According to Cag & Acarb (2015) while working with families, Whitaker teased them through free behavioral and emotional means to provoke them. I believe this technique could potentially cause more harm than good if the family is not capable of handling the therapist probing.
In order to assess the family client’s system the use of theoretical concepts from Bowen family systems therapy were required. For example, emotional cutoffs were presented by the two sisters because according to client’s statements they left the house, setting an extreme emotional distance to break any emotional ties to the family. In addition, the client exhibits a great fusion to the father causing the client to be poorly differentiated and thus becoming the object in the family projection process. Furthermore, as part of the assessment, three themes/patterns were identified as the primary factors impacting the structure of the family and history of its members. These are the following: 1) alcohol abuse, which in this case is the most predominant
“The Changing American Family” by Natalie Angier states, “Fictive families are springing up among young people, old people, disabled people, homeless people, and may well define one of the ultimate evolutions of the family concept, maximizing, as they do, the opportunities for fulfillment of specific social and economic needs outside the constraints of biological relatedness.” The ever changing social dynamics and circumstances of this life have opened the definition of family to encompass individuals who can fill those deep-seated needs
Being an only child, for the most part, I firmly agree with Adler’s claims with regard to the birth order theory, as well as their corresponding characteristics. Throughout my childhood, I, indeed have been heavily pampered and I have been the center of attention for my parents. I was practically spoiled with everything that I wanted, given the fact that my parents never had a child before. Along with the birth order theory, its corresponding characteristics have definitely surprised me for it seems that these descriptions could be considered as accurate.
Family members may or may not be biologically related, share the same household, or be legally recognized” (Raney, 2015:6). In the series Modern family, it shows the dynamics of a 21st century family and how traditions and culture has evolved over the years. As opposed to “nuclear family” “No longer does the traditional family consist of two parents and two children; instead, more diverse and shifting family structures are becoming the norm.