A Comparison Of Satir And Symbolic-Experiential Therapy

Some people come into therapy with the misconception that the therapist is overly responsible for figuring out what is wrong with them and then can change it. The problem with this misconception is that it makes the therapist the impetus for change; clients take on the role of passive recipient, waiting to be cured. It puts unrealistic expectations on the therapist. As a new therapist, this is something I will have to watch out for myself. I will need to watch for the client having unrealistic expectations that I will be able to fix them all by myself. I will also have to watch that I don’t put unrealistic expectations on myself; needing to be the expert that has all the answers and amazing insights and solutions for the client’s problems.

Metaphor and imagery have a long history in psychotherapy, metaphor building up the relationship between the client and the psychotherapist (building trust, empathy and understanding). Metaphor is very powerful and can raise self- awareness and help clients to see more or less the full picture of the client inner world. Metaphor and imagery as used in the therapeutic relationship to building up the link between the inner world and external world is abstract but very powerful and can help the client to link between the here and now and the past (the echo of a significant event or situation in which the client feels stuck, in an impasse or in a dilemma not solved). Metaphor and imagery help the client to move in a positive way

Through my experiences with people of many backgrounds, as well as my education, I have learned to separate the idea of sex and gender. I still maintain certain traditional views regarding gender, however I’ve come to the realization that the social constructs of men and women are not, and should not, be as rigid. In my opinion, I have acknowledged that there are differences between ‘men’ and ‘women’, however these differences should be used to uplift one another, rather than to tear the other gender apart. For example, a family unit in which the man decides to take on the responsibilities of the

What are the similarities with these three models? They focuses on the overall process of planned change, instead of on specific organizational development actions. All three approaches focus on the application of the knowledge of behavioral science. Furthermore, all three models can be integrated and used together to implement planned change, and are created to help the change management be more effective.

It is in the traditional values of family integrity that there are stereotypical views on families of all kinds: single parents, divorced families, families without children, families same sex. Homosexuality, heterosexuality and transgenderism are highly pressured in aspects related to heterosexual marriage such as marriage, childbirth, and the resulting pressures on kinship. At the beginning of the piece.

A traditional family is no longer considered the norm amongst a typical family structure. Many family structures consist of the nuclear family, single parent household, lesbian/gay family, childless family, grandparent family, and stepfamily. Each family is made distinctive, develops at different stages, and deals with family issues. Family development theory is used to help families deal with issues and how to handle them in different stages of development. Issues within the family can be caused by a numerous of situations from a child acting out to a parent getting a divorce.

When choosing the therapy modality for this family, symbolic-experiential therapy seemed to fit. I compare this family’s situation to Carl Whitaker’s reference his work as, “therapy of the absurd.” People who engage in any type of prejudices, biases or any discriminatory acts are not properly informed and it is absurd to me. I had my reservations about the techniques that Carl Whitaker displayed when I was first exposed to his videos but having gone back over the literature and adapting some of the styles, the therapy techniques for this family situation seem to fit well. The issues surrounding this family are complex, same-sex marriage (sexual prejudice) and require a straightforward approach for getting to the heart of the issues. Symbolic-experiential therapy is not based on any one type of theory instead, it is the therapists who is the main catalyst for helping the family understand the worldviews of its members and, therefore, establish a better relationship within the system. Each member takes part in greater self-discovery, which in turn, leads to a better understanding of how the positives out weigh the negatives in allowing the family unit to work better. Symbolic therapy relies heavily on emotional logic rather than cognitive logic, which in most cases of sexual prejudice, is the premise behind the prejudgment. Through the use of this, there is more room for flexibility when discussing issues and

Systemic Therapy has aroused numerous criticisms over time, of which much derive from the use of confrontation and the impact this can have on the therapeutic relationship (Hammond & Nichols 2008). Champions of Systemic therapy strenuously deny the use of confrontation as harmful to the therapeutic relationship. Hoyle {2013} also raises criticism with systemic Therapy stating as a model it is not addressing issues that do not fit into “societal norms” in terms of culture, ethnicity, structure and sexuality to be treated as deviant. Some feminist critics have been critical of the model also, due to the idea of equality between different gender family members and it did not concede that family systems cannot be observed through gender unprejudiced glasses as it disregards the socially shaped perspective and assumptions placed on male and female roles {Walker and Akister, 2004}

Both therapeutic models require the therapist to be fairly active, but structural therapists seem to involve themselves more with the family during a session. Strategic therapists give directives, but structural therapists are directors of a play that they also cast themselves in (Lee, 2011). Both therapies focus on action over insight (Lee, 2011; Smith et al., 2011). Interventions in both also involve giving directives, but structural therapists also use maps as a way to understand and explore family hierarchies and subsystems at play (Lee, 2011). Overall, the goals in strategic seem much more flexible and up for negotiation with the family, whereas it seems like in structural the main goal is to always establish well-working subsystems and healthy hierarchies (Lee, 2011; Smith et al.,

My question is, how does this theory work within male homosexual relationships? Bergman has based most of this theory within the hetero male-female module. Although, in his defense, he stated his ideas are not based on all males. Last week, I asked guest speaker, Michael Kauffman about contemporary family modules and non-nuclear family dynamics, and how it affects these modern and postmodern views. He said it was his new direction in research. I’m curious to know how that

Weeks, Jefferey, Brian Heaphy and Catherine Donovan. “The Lesbian and Gay Family. The Blackwell Companion to the Sociology of Families. Scott, Jacqueline et al. Eds., Blackwell Publishing, 2004, pp.340-355.

The psychological status of the pregnant woman may determine her ability to following instructions and caring for herself while pregnant and later. Risk factors of pregnancy do not end at delivery, often continuing into the perinatal period, when the woman may be especially vulnerable to the onset or relapse of serious psychiatric disorders.

same-sex family, without the benefit of both male and female role models, would not be in his or

One final thought on the gendered dynamics of relationships is the growing amount of same-sex marriages. This completely rids relationships of gendered dynamics. Partners can settle into roles that they feel comfortable in without worrying about social norms. However, sometimes people assume that there is a “man” and a “woman” even in same-sex relationships. This shows society’s closed view that relationships need to have gendered dynamics.

The second theorist is Satir system family therapy, sees a person as being more important than the tasks including the time factor (Nichols, 2014). Her approach addresses each family member by name and family position, while being very careful to honor the position of head of household represents the sensitivity to each individual’s position in the family as the therapist strives to enhance a sense of pride, regardless of the person’s figure position (Nichols, 2014). The model follows a hierarchical approach to getting family members involved, starting with the adults and then the children.