family therapy

family therapyThe concept of family therapy is perceived as a score of psychotherapy involving all the members of the nuclear family. Family therapy should be conducted by a team of therapists or at least a pair. In many situations the team should consist of a man and a woman so as to discretion gender colligate issues used as a share model to the members of the family in question. The family therapy models are based on psycho ever-changing principles or behaviors while others are based on family systems theories which attachment a family as a unit of give-and-take, as a whole while emphasizing on such values as communication patterns as opposed to traits and relationships (Medical Psychology, 2009, p. 1).The history of Murray Bowen interest in psychiatry as a physician dates back to 2nd world War. After the War Bowen became trained and worked at the Menninger Clinic at Kansas Topeka which is actually famous founded by dickens brothers who were practitioners of psychoanalyti c technique in psychiatry. Bowen had a whim of confusion as well trap at the Menninger dynamics. The particular issue that gave him distress was the manner in which the two brothers and the employees were involving patients and other employees in crazy reservation interactions. He realized that he was in a position to think of the difficulty in the clinic while traveling but could become dysfunctional immediately he reported back to work. He discovered that the families of schizophrenic patients who were victims of the War communicated in disturbed manner. The patients manifestations were noned to rise or fall dependent on the tension between the parents (Medical Psychology, 2009, p. 1). Bowen came to a realisation that he could be able to think more clearly of his own family of origin dynamics in those times that he spent a itinerary form his family of origin. He discovered that family members had a tendency to complain to him of other familys members without talking directly to the persons about the problem. He came to a realization that he could be in a position to think more clearly of what was happening when not communicating with any of the family members encountering more difficulties when communication with the complainant (Medical Psychology, 2009, p. 1).Its based on these observations that he set a course towards deliberately changing his own ways of interacting with his family. In a speech he delivered in a professional encounter he disclosed his endeavor in the family snuggle breaking therapist tradition of never disclosing own family information and published a paper that became very famous on his family of origin known as Framo in 1972 (Medical Psychology, 2009, p. 1).Bowen theorized that people who are mentally ill were caught in the pattern of their families fusion or dedifferentiated ego mass to an extent that they are symptoms careers for the illness of the entire family rather than characterologically flawed ill. Bowen would hospita lize the entire family so that he could treat the aroused problem rather than offer treatment to the individual (Medical Psychology, 2009, p. 1).The key concepts in the in Bowens family psychodynamics includedDifferentiated ego the concept of specialty of self refers to an individuals ability to champion strong sense of self while still maintaining strong connectivity with a strong aroused system. A person is able to differentiate what one thinks and feels as separated from system dynamics whereby an individual is able to think and act on his/ her own opinion with no influence from the family members influence acting on personal judgment. Such a person can pack other peoples opinions and advice but make an independent decision. Bowen notes that differentiation of the self in a family dynamic as opposed to an individual characteristic. The process is observable through friendship, family or work. A person should get to a level of differentiating emotions from thoughts (Nichols Schwartz, 2001, p. 140).Fusion is the opposite of self differentiation where Bowen noted that all people endeavor to balance intimacy from autonomy. Without autonomy one may not be able to think for him/herself. This leads to easily being swayed by other peoples opinions and feelings emanating from the natural tendency to feel connected and pass intimacy with others. On the other hand there is a feeling of anxiety when we start losing our autonomy thence an attempt to develop a separate self. Bowen hence argues that most of behaviors are the rational attempts to balance between the discreteness and the natural togetherness. The fusion of anxiety leads to emotionality and reactivity under stress (Titelman, 1998, p. 21).Triangulation Bowen pointed out that emotionally significant relationships are shadowed by third parties who may include relatives, workmates and the work itself, objects and memories. He noted that relationships are dynamics where there are cycles of closeness of distance whereby triangles may develop during distance times. In a situation where one person undergoes through more distress he/she is likely to identify other person elsewhere so as to have an ally. aroundtimes the significant other may offer help when they sense conflict (Nichols Schwartz, 2001, p. 137).Counselors billetThe role of guidance in the process of development of psychodynamic approaches inside family systems therapy as presented by Bowen revolves around the goals of therapy. One of the major goals of this therapy is to reduce anxiety as one increases differentiation of self. Its incumbent for the councilor runner to note the problem in the patient and help the client first accept that they have a problem. Any healing process get out emanate from admitting that indeed the problem exists (Nichols Schwartz, 2001, p. 137-171).The councilor has a role to use his/her experience in tracing the family pattern. As Bowen argues a client is symptom carrier for the entire nuclear family and hence an attempt to treat the patient without treating the entire family will be just cooling the problem for sometime for the root of the problem is not identified tracing the family pattern helps the councilor to comprehend the core of the problem so as to offer cure to the sickness rather than to the symptoms. The counselor will do this through paying attention to patterns of emotional reactivity and paying attention to the structures that includes interlocking triangles (Nichols Schwartz, 2001, p. 137-171).The counselor should endeavor to create a connection with the family members while working on their levels of anxiety and emotional arousals in the entire system. He/she should also define parameters of central symptomatic triangles. The therapist should remain free of emotional entanglement so that he will not feel stuck. He should coach the client in that the client will cultivate responses. He should be clear to the client of what he feels, not braggar t(a) confusing sentiments (Nichols Schwartz, 2001, p. 137-171).The role of a client in the Bowens model to the development of psychodynamic approaches within family systems therapy facilitates the treatment process. The greatest role of a client is to show cooperation in the therapy process, as mach as a counselor may have the relevant experience, the success of this therapy is dependent on the client. Since the councilor takes the role of a couch the client will have to obey the couch to get over the problem. He should answer the questions directed to him/her truthfully. The client should create conducive environment that will enable the counselor to offer the necessary help. For example in the tracing of the family patterns a therapist can not be able to do it without the assistance of the client. This calls for trust and bareness on the part of the client towards the counselor (Williamson, 2002, p, 115- 117).The client will have to accept that they have a problem and realize th e need for securing solution. The client should be keen to listen to the instructions commit themselves to the healing process by comply with and implement all the instructions to the letter. The client should have readjustment of the mind. If he/she has always believed that he can only make a decision based on what others especially family members say, then such calls for an absolute turn to making decisions based on own personality (Williamson, 2002, p. 115- 117).Advantages and limitations of Bowens family therapyThis model on family therapy is one of the most distinctive models for its in-depth approach an evaluation of the family beyond the symptoms in the present. The focus which it takes in the on the emotional process over individuals or generations differentiation in their domineering context does offer a therapist a multi level scan which has been reserved for psychodynamic therapies (Corey, 2005, p. 421-424).The approach is able to pay attention to the emotional interact ion of the therapist as well as that of their client. This process expects that in one way or the other a therapists life applies to the therapy process in one way or the other. In this way the therapist is able to remain Meta to the clients family system (Corey, 2005, p. 421-424).Research has identified family therapy system as having several advantages. Its principles have been used by many therapists in family settings. The approach has an advantage of broadening the perception of a therapist through incorporation of the family system theory in therapy process. It provides a practitioner with a holistic perception of the problem in question and hence easily come up with treatment measures (SPB, 2007, para. 4).It also has strength in relation to developing a solution to a problem in that it takes into written report the congregation as a whole. It considers a family as a living organism which is continually affected by all the elements that comprise the whole (Prest Protinskey, 1993, 352-360). and so it provides a global view of an individual with a problem and his/her social constructs it may offer a more exhaustive therapy in light of this (Carr, 2006, p. 56).Some of the limitations that that have been outlined in relation to Bowens model include therapist have identified that its not always possible to integrate the entire family into the treatment process even though if a therapist is able to change an individual to fit into the system, he/she will play a key role in bringing the entire family into the healing process. Bowens family therapy model is found to ignore many of the positive roles of familys togetherness and may be malfunctioned to an individual from collective cultures.Critique to Bowens approachBowens model of family theory has not escaped the eyes of rational criticism on its approach to the concept of family therapy several of Bowens therapists have acknowledged that wider focus on the approach by Bowen can be a drawback since many clie nts are focusing only on addressing symptoms relief n nuclear family. They argue that the symptom reduction approach by Bowen is perceived just a groundwork from which families are free to proceed to less anxiously to working on de-triangling and heighten levels of differentiation. In this lies a clear risk of discrepancies in client and therapist purposes (Kerr Bowen, 1988, p. 395).The approach has been criticized as having paid too much attention on mothers region in the symptom development in children. Some evidence to the allegation can be found by scanning the index to Kerr and Bowen (1988). In the two theorists publications fathers do not affirm a category yet mothers are referenced in relation to families of schizophrenics, levels of differentiation in the child, and their role in triangles (Kerr Bowen, 1988, p. 395).They have been criticized as having failed to contextualize maternal behavior. Patriarchal supposition regarding male / female roles along with family organi zation are not recognized or critiqued, leaving women susceptible to having their socially approved roles pathologised. Women are readily labeled as over fretful, and their vigorous, relational role in families too effortlessly labeled as undifferentiated. There is no puzzlement of societal norms that can be seen to school females into undifferentiating by teaching them always to put others needs first (Corey, 2005, p. 421-424).ConclusionBowen has been recorded as being among the first people to pioneer the network of family relationships. His family system therapy has a very comprehensive view of human behavior and relationships (Nichols Schwartz, 2001, p. 317). In his theoretical formulations he talked about differentiation of self, triangulation, nuclear family emotional process, family projection process, and Multigenerational Transmission Process.Basically family therapy system represents a hypothesis which perceives a family as an emotional unit which employs system thinking in the description of a complex interaction within that unit. The model has been utilized by many therapists in transforming marriages and familys life. It has clearly showed the connection between an individuals problem to role of the family in extrapolating of the problem. The model attempts to explain the need of individuals in a family setting developing individuality. The model has profoundly showed the effect of each others thought feelings and action to an individual. It uses systematic thinking n describing complex interaction of a family that is considered as an emotional unit. The theory is based on the principle of interconnectivity and reactivity in a familys emotional setting.The model observes a clients problematic behavior as serving a function for the family. The individual problematic behavior may also serve as a familys inability in productivity.teh maladaptive behavior may be a manifestation of dysfunctional patters that have been passed down from one generation t o another (Corey, 2001, p. 384-451).ReferencesMedical Psychology. (2009). Family Therapy. Retrieved on 17th January, 2010 from http//www.answers.com/library/Medical+Encyclopedia-cid-2882124Nichols, M. Schwartz, R. (2001). Bowen family system therapy. In M. P. Nichols R. C. Schwartz, Family therapy Concepts and methods. Boston Allyn and Bacon.Williamson, S. (2002). The Intimacy Paradox Personal Authority in the Family System The Guilford Family Therapy Series, in the altogether York, NY Guilford Press.Titelman, P. (1998). Clinical Applications of Bowen Family Systems Theory Haworth marriage and the family. New York, NY Rutledge.Corey, G. (2005). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. New Jersey, NJ Cengage Learning, 2005Michael, E. (1988). Murray Bowen Family evaluation an approach based on Bowen theory. London, UK Norton.Prest, L. Protinsky, H. (1993). Family systems theory A unifying framework for the codependence. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 21(4), 35 2-360.Carr, A. (2006). Family Therapy Concepts, Process and Practice, 2nd Edition. London, UK John Wiley Sons Ltd.Social Psychology Blog 2. (2007). A Theoretical Overview of Family Systems Theory within the enlighten of Social Psychology. Retrieved on 17th January, 2010 from http//secondattemptatblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-2-theroretical-overview-of-family.htmlCorey, G. (2001). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 6th Edition. Stamford Brooks/Cole Publishing, 384-451.