Structural family therapy ( SFT ) is a psychotherapeutic method developed by Salvador Minuchin that addresses issues in family functioning. The structural family therapist seeks to enter, or "join," the family system in therapy to understand the invisible rules that govern their functions, map the relationships between family members or between subsets of the family, and ultimately disrupt dysfunctional relationships within the family. , causing it to be stable to a healthy pattern. Minuchin argues that pathology does not lie in individuals, but in family systems.
SFT utilizes, not only special system terminology, but also a means to describe key family parameters in a diagram. The focus is on the family structure, including the various substructures. In this case, Minuchin is a follower of system and communication theory, because its structure is defined by transactions between interrelated systems within the family. He subscribed to the concept of a system of wholeness and equifinality, both of which are essential to the idea of ​​change. An important feature of SFT is that the therapist actually enters, or "joins", with the family system as a catalyst for positive change. Joining a family is the goal of the therapist early on in his therapeutic relationship with the family. Structural and Strategic Therapy is an important therapeutic model for identifying many therapists using this model as a basis for treatment. Each model has its own approach using different ways of conceptualizing problems and developing treatment plans that support stated goals for therapy. In addition, the theory-based care plan is the source for the development of goals and treatment options by identifying emerging problems and social influences. Both of these models use a similar approach and set goals with a variety of therapeutic processes that begin with building therapists and client relationships. In addition, diversity and theory are identified as a key component in choosing a theory that addresses issues of diversity.
Video Structural family therapy
Goal
The purpose of this model is to prevent the sequence of repetitions, by disrupting the hierarchical structure of family secrets. This includes the distribution of power transfer to others by changing the interaction style. However, structural therapy is the opposite and works to change dysfunctional structures by encouraging the growth and encouragement of individuals to build family support. In addition, the purpose of family structure is to change the dynamics and provide new alternative ways of solving problems and interactions. This includes subsystems that affect the way each member interacts with each other. Members who have difficulty in resolving family issues need changes in structure, apply some rules and organization. This includes rearranging or changing behavior in the family structure by working with each member finding ways to increase interaction.
Minuchin's goal is to promote the restructuring of the family system along the healthier lines, which he does by incorporating various family subsystems, "continually causing upheaval by intervening in ways that would result in instability situations requiring changes and restructuring of family organizations. Changes therapeutic can not occur unless some of the existing terms of reference are modified, the flexibility introduced and the new ways of the function being developed. "To accelerate the change, Minuchin manipulates the format of the therapy sessions, organizes the desired subsystem by isolating them from the rest of the family, either by using space and position (seating) indoors, or by having non-members of the desired substructure leave the room (but still involved with looking behind the one-way mirror). The purpose of such interventions often leads to an imbalance in the family system, to help them see dysfunctional patterns and remain open to restructuring. He believes that change must be done gradually and taken in steps that can be digested to be useful and lasting. Because the structure tends to perpetuate itself, especially when there is negative feedback, Minuchin insists that therapeutic changes may be maintained beyond the threshold of the therapy sessions.
One variant or extension of the methodology can be said to move from the manipulation of experience to the understanding that fosters. When working with a non-introspective and concrete-oriented family, Minuchin will use subsystem isolation - a one-way mirror technique to teach the family members on the mirror's point of view to move from being a trapped participant to an evaluation observer. He does this by joining them in the view room and showing the transaction patterns that occur on the other side of the mirror. While Minuchin does not officially integrate this extension into his view of therapeutic changes, it seems that it requires a minimum level of understanding or understanding for the restructuring of its subsystems to "take" and to enable positive feedback generated between subsystems to induce stability and resistance to change.
Changes, then, occur at the subsystem level and are the result of manipulation by the therapist from the existing subsystem, and are managed by a larger function and produce a changing frame of reference and feedback.
Maps Structural family therapy
Interventions
Structural therapy uses family mapping to join and accommodate family settings. In addition, these areas are related to family rules, patterns, and structures. Minuchin described six observational areas identified in the family structure. These areas include transactional patterns, flexibility, resonance, context, family development stages, and maintaining family interaction. In reference, the intervention method is based on referrals that feed the symptoms by providing a set of instructions to emphasize communication. This model also drafts problems by finding the right strategy to understand the problem with clarity.
Foundation and assumptions
Structural family therapy helps identify family interactions by identifying family-setting organizations. The main and basic assumption of this model is to identify the structure of families and subsystems established through the level of authority and boundaries. These include subsystems that develop boundaries that are beginning to evolve patterns for daily communication and interaction. Nichols refers to the family structure as a framework for transactions that have meaning and order to the family structure.
The family structure model is based on organizations and subsystems. This includes interactions between individuals, with the roles and expectations set. Family members who set the rules will begin to recognize how the interaction will manifest into a redundant pattern of communication. Family members began to take certain roles. This includes the level of authority and limits established during the development of the family structure. The main purpose is to understand how members of the family structure can learn to solve problems with greater understanding of interactions.
In SFT, the family rule is defined as a collection of invisible functional demands that regularly govern family interactions. Important rules for a therapist to study include coalition, boundary, and power hierarchy between subsystems.
According to Minuchin, the family is functional or dysfunctional based on its ability to adapt to various stressors (extra-family, idiosyncratic, developmental), which, in turn, depends on the clarity and appropriateness of its subsystem boundaries. Boundaries are characterized along the continuum of enmeshment through semi-diffuse permeability to stiffness. In addition, the family subsystem is characterized by a power hierarchy, usually with the parent subsystem "above" vis-ÃÆ' -vis hereditary subsystem.
Structural family therapy is supported by a clearly articulated family function model, and has been developed and used most consistently in services for children and families. In a healthy family, parent-child boundaries are clear and semi-diffuse, allowing parents to interact along with some level of authority in the negotiations between their own methods and parenting purposes. From the children's side, parents are not involved with children, allowing for autonomous sibling levels and peer interactions that result in socialization, but not so detached, rigid, or aloof, ignoring childhood needs for support, upbringing, and guidance. Dysfunctional families show mixed subsystems (ie, coalitions) and improper power hierarchies, such as in older child instances brought into parent subsystems to replace spouses who are physically or emotionally absent.
Criticism
Like any theory, structural family therapy has also undergone many criticisms. This theory meets with a lot of criticism, that this type of theory focuses more on issues of power between different generations, rather than focusing more on the power issues that occur between relationships within the current generation, for example, husband and wife abuse. In addition to this criticism, it is also said that this kind of therapy only involves the core family members and ignores the interaction of other factors such as: big families, social institutions, and neighbors. This latter criticism is puzzling, because one characteristic of structural family therapy is its attention to the impact of social and institutional context on family life.
See also
- Family system therapy
- System theory
References
Further reading
- Vetere, Arlene (2001). "Structural Family Therapy". Child Psychology & amp; Psychiatric Reviews . 6 : 133-139.
- Will, David (1985). Integrated Family Therapy . London: Tavistock. ISBNÃ, 0-422-79760-X.
- Piercy, Fred (1986). Family Therapy Book . New York: Guilford Press. ISBN 0-89862-913-6.
- Minuchin, S.; Fishman, H. C. (2004). Family Therapy Techniques . Harvard University Press.
External links
- Salvador Minuchin SFT Site
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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