Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
CN AT 542-2 COUNSELING THEORY AND PRACTICE, BRIAN SERNA, M.A., LPCC, LADAC
ascertaining the dynamics of a family, first and subsequent family therapy sessions can be
quite challenging; families in therapy may be volatile, and difficult to manage, so assessing
complex family dynamics is made all the more challenging (Kottler and Montgomery).
Historically there have been numerous approaches, by various leaders in the field, to
systemic therapy (Kottler and Montgomery). Murray Bowen, Nathan Ackerman, and James
Framo had a psychoanalytic approach which strongly considered family history (Kottler and
Montgomery). Carl Whitaker and Virginia Satir had a humanistic approach focused on the
now and emphasizing the relationship between the therapist and the family (the therapist
joins the family, to a certain degree, then makes reparative intervention from within the
family system) (Kottler and Montgomery). A structural systemic approach, developed by
Salvador Minuchin, perceives the problem as being maintained by their life and family
system; the idea is that, with restructuring, the family will function differently (Kottler and
Montgomery). A structural approach considers how a family may be enmeshed or
disengaged, and this work has proven useful with families dealing with eating disorders or
those who are poor, marginalized, or otherwise have a hard time accessing mainstream
psychotherapy (Kottler and Montgomery). A strategic systems approach, also a powerful
brief therapy, developed by Jay Haley and Clo Madanes, focuses upon interactional and
communication styles in families, and how they may be changed for the better (Kottler and
Montgomery). Multicultural systems approaches are sensitive to societal impact, and cultural
background, upon a family and consider the influence of non-biological relationships which
are impacting the family system and the individuals in it (Kottler and Montgomery).
Other systemic approaches include constructivist theories which relate to how a
Montgomery). Related to that, the progressive concept and practice of narrative therapy,
existential in that it has to do with finding personal meaning, feminist as it is concerned with
social dynamics that may contribute to the marginalization of people, and yet is also postmodern in its unique approach to the problems faced by clients (Kottler and Montgomery). In
narrative therapy the problem is externalized, reducing shame and guilt, while encouraging
the family system to join together to defeat the problem (Kottler and Montgomery).
Narrative therapy involves 1) externalizing conversations, 2) mapping the influence, 3)
unique outcome questions, 4) unique possibilities, and 5) restorying (Kottler and
Montgomery). Aspects of narrative therapy echo elements of family coaching.
Systemic approaches, whatever their specific lens, include (Kottler and Montgomery):
1)
2)
Change in any one part of the system will affect others who are interconnected.
3)
4)
All therapy is family therapy, because changes in one person affect the system.
5)
6)
making, and family rituals, are all affecting the family now.
7)
8)
Family systems exist in cultural and other contexts which requires negotiation.
Major challenges for practitioners of family therapy include the difficulties in keeping a
CN AT 542-2 COUNSELING THEORY AND PRACTICE, BRIAN SERNA, M.A., LPCC, LADAC
expressive, family system. Individuals will likely want the therapist to take sides; it is vital that
the therapist remain professional, objective and fair, and help the family to understand the
dynamics of co-creating a problem (rather than focusing negatively on a member of the family
system). A therapist must be directive and tune into and track the multiple persons, their
individual agendas, verbal and nonverbal communication, and be able to join the family
(Kottler and Montgomery). Success in a systemic approach requires that the therapist
reorient, structurally realign, and intervene in a family; this task is not for the therapist who is
faint of heart (Kottler and Montgomery). Done effectively, a systems approach is a powerful
tool and approach to correct issues in and benefit the lives of individuals and family units.
CN AT 542-2 COUNSELING THEORY AND PRACTICE, BRIAN SERNA, M.A., LPCC, LADAC