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Family System Therapy

Decent Essays

Breaking Barriers in Pursuit of a Life Full of Wonder From the first scene of Wonder (2017) it is evident that the family observed, or the Pullmans, had a genuine intent to support the system while playing specific roles. In internal family systems therapy (IFS), each of these parts is valuable, has good intentions, and wants to play a positive role in the system (Kayij-Wint, 2017). Schwartz (2013) defined the IFS view of the mind as, “...a dynamic system comprising many sub-minds, called parts known as exiles, managers, and firefighters” (p. 807). For this reason the authors will analyze the family through the lens of IFS focusing on the maladaptive symptoms that disrupt the Self, and the parts each individual embodied due to …show more content…

Sibling position was not the only form of protection for Auggie, as maladaptive symptoms, “...occur when parts take on extreme roles due to life experiences” (Kayij-Wint, 2017). These symptoms explain what part of the system an individual has embraced and can be divided into three roles known as exiles, managers, and firefighters. As Wark, Thomas, and Peterson (2001) explained, “Exiles carry painful emotions…Managers try to oversee the exiles and the situations in which exiles might express their pain and distress. If the strategies of the managers fail, the exiles are activated, and firefighters frantically react to control the exiles. Firefighters try to numb the pain of the exiles” (p. 190). Green (2008) described these parts as subpersonalities that demonstrate life experiences and mental development (p. 126). For this reason, Auggie portrayed a firefighter who wanted to differentiate from the burden of his disability, which was the family exile his disability generated. Due to this, Isabel embodied the perfect example of a manager as she worked to contain the exile by staying in control of Auggie’s life events and relationships (Kayij-Wint, 2017). Isabel’s management was supported by her husband’s need to manage, as he attempted to stifle the exile through his constant support of Isabel’s wishes. Like her father, Via attempted to manage the exile by continually pushing Auggie to embrace life’s hardships and do what he feared to do, whether it was trick-or treating or discussing his feelings with

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