Integrated Systemic Family Therapy Essay

The goal of Bowen’ theory is to review developmental patterns within the familial system and the stress centered around the anxiety caused by closeness or the lack thereof (Penny, 1999). Bowen’s theory works to facilitate a decline in stress and anxiety by enabling the clients with education as to how the emotional system works and focusing on how to modify self perceptional behaviors instead of working to change others within the system (Penny, 1999).

Strategic Therapy or Strategic Family Therapy is one of the oldest theories used in the practice of marriage and family therapy today. It was developed by Don Jackson and others affiliated to the Palo Alto group. Jay Haley and the Milan Group are also important practitioners of the model Strategic Therapy. This theory is portrayed as focused on altering family dynamics, eliminating problems and focusing on the presenting problems rather than the past, and often giving homework and behavioral tasks to clients. In this essay is a detailed description of the history of strategic therapy, beliefs, techniques and problems presented by this theory.

This paper will use the book The Family Crucible to demonstrate the authors’ family systems approach to therapy. Narrative theory is compared and contrasted with family systems theory, and is ultimately integrated into my own theoretical foundation for practice as a social worker.

A therapeutic relationship is a key component in the nursing profession. Without therapeutic relationships, the best possible care can never be provided. The foundation in which trust is built upon is created from the nurse’s ability to truly listen and respond appropriately. Listening creates the base in developing a strong, trusting relationship. Sometimes it is simply hearing what a patient says that makes all the difference, empowering them to open up and become more comfortable with the nurse (Hawkins-Walsh, 2000).

Nurses interact with families in a variety of community-based and clinical settings. The family nursing process is the same, regardless of the setting or whether the focus is on the family as a whole or on an individual in that family (Crisp & Taylor 2005). In the case of a 3 year old girl just diagnosed with leukaemia, it is important for a nurse to critically analyse the situation and address any immediate concerns. The nurse must address any professional issues that may arise and any potential impacts of hospitalisation that may affect the child and the family. Also provide support and education to reassure and comfort them. The primary concern for paediatric nurses is the welfare of the child and the family (Crisp & Taylor 2005).

Lauren Smith is a five year old Caucasian girl who is demonstrating anxiety when separated from her mother. The family was referred to this service by their pediatrician. Over the past few months, Mr. and Mrs. Smith report Lauren has become increasingly troubled when being separated from her mother. She cries while clinging to her each morning before school and her father describes having to “pry her off” and carry her to the car. Lauren’s parents are also concerned with regressive behavior; she is speaking more often in third person when referring to herself, and she has also begun wetting the bed nearly every night. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had a conference with Lauren’s teacher two weeks ago at which time she told them Lauren was having difficulty concentrating and completing her work. The teacher also voiced concerns about her lack of interest in participating in group activities; she appears to prefer to play by herself. The parents report that Lauren is otherwise healthy and has been meeting age appropriate developmental milestones.

Structural family therapy is a model of treatment based on systems theory that was developed by Salvador Minuchin. Structural family therapy features emphasis is mostly on structural change as the main goal of therapy; it pays close attention to the individual but also acknowledges the importance of family in the healing process of the individual.

mechanisms that had previously enabled the client to function in their daily life, leads as they

I can competently implement, identify, and describe the four major categories of direct practice in my own practice. I can also competently articulate the correct application, focus, and desired result of direct practice theories presented in this chapter in my own practice. The first of the four major categories is psychodynamic theories, which attempts to connect the current problems a client is having to past traumas from an early time in life. The focus of psychodynamic theories is to translate insights into personality changes within the client. The second category is cognitive-behavioral theories, which connects the cognitive processes and their influence on behaviors and focuses on the present with hopes to improve the future. These theories focus on the current conditions of the client and identify distortions, beliefs, and misconceptions that contribute to the behaviors and symptoms of the client. The third theories are the humanistic theories which are theories concerned with the present time and consists of a therapist being authentic, genuine, and having positive regard for the client while conducting person-centered counseling. The fourth of the four major categories is postmodern theories, which are theories that belief that reality is subjective in nature and open to multiple interpretations influenced by personal experiences and values along with the social and political norms. Within the postmodern theories is narrative therapy and solution-focused therapy.

The two theories chosen are the relational gestalt therapy and cognitive-behavioral family therapy where both of them are considered to be important in the psychotherapy world. The reason why they were chosen is because both of them are designed in a special way to address and explain the roots of dysfunction, and to impact change in individuals and family units. However, what is interesting the most is the basic principles of these two theories, connected interventions, and basic assumptions and explains about dysfunction. Cognitive behavioral therapy is type of therapy that was first developed for individuals who are suffering from eating disorders (Biblarz T. & Stacey, 2008). However, it is now used for several issues such as anxiety, depression, OCD, family issues, and even anger problems. On the other hand, gestalt therapy is a unique type of psychotherapy that places an emphasis on personal responsibility and the experience of individuals in a certain moment, instead of focusing on the past. The reason I like them is because they address the root of

The history of family therapy began around 1960, when Gregory Bateson coined the term, “system thinking.” This type of therapy was a daring departure, both technically and philosophically, from traditional and individual treatment during the 1960s. Gregory Bateson was inspired. He felt that the unit known, as “the family” needed to be celebrated and that is exactly what he did” (Family Therapy, 2010, Para 1) Along with Gregory Bateson, are a list of several others who contributed to the evolution of Marriage and family counseling. This list includes the founder of social work, Mary Richmond, Mr. W. James, who researched the organic expression of social systems intervention and Mr. J. Dewey. Each of these

This week’s reading transcribes an interview of Michael White, the founder of narrative therapy at the Dulwich Centre, in Adelaide, South Australia. White defines the therapeutic underpinnings and process of narrative therapy in relation to a client and their personal story. Narrative therapy includes a constructionist foundation which, allows a client to interpret personal experiences based on observation and reflection.

Within both individual and family structured therapy models, there exists pros and cons. Individual therapy, as mentioned before, is centered around a client–counselor interaction, where the counselor focuses his or her attention on the client’s needs. This provides a one–on–one interaction that encourages openness and security. During individual therapy, the client has the counselors undivided attention. This in return allows the counselor to focus specifically on the clients concerns. As we’ve explored already, individual therapy has proven to be an effective technique in reducing recidivism. One form of psychotherapy used by the criminal justice system is cognitive behavioral therapy. As mentioned previously, cognitive behavioral therapy assumes that most people can become conscious of their own thoughts and behaviors and therefore make a positive change. To make a positive change, its important to understand the theory behind behavior. Cognitive theory of motivation seeks to explain human behavior as a product of information that has been actively processed and interpreted. This perspective runs counter to rationalizing human behavior as automatic responses governed by innate drives, needs, and reactions. Proponents of cognitive motivation assert that people’s expectations guide their behavior. Motivation, is therefore rooted in two basic factors. The first involves available information. Initially, the individual will process a situation based on whatever input is

As the therapist I choose to used the “Systemic theory” for the Richards family. The systemic theory will “focus solely on resolving the presenting problem with the therapist imposing no other goals or agendas” (Gehart 90). Also, as the therapist I will see the presenting problem not as an individual problem but as relational and interactional. As the therapist I will not see one person at fault. Another important aspect of the Systemic theory is to “identify]the interactional behavioral patterns and meanings associated with the problem, he or she uses one of many potential interventions to interrupt,not correct, this sequence” (Gehart 90). My goal as the therapist I will intereput the problem and have the family regroup with new information

According to this study, the child-parent-relationship play therapy can be effective in improving depression and anxiety in children with cancer. The overall results showed that (i) play therapy with CPR approach causes reduction in depression in children with cancer and (ii) although reducing in anxiety is not statistically significant but clinically significant. The results of this study can be explained from different perspectives. According to the Piaget's theory (1959) children before 11 years have not abstract thinking and play therapy to be handled due to low verbal capacity in children. On the other hand, focuses on the relationship between child and parent in the filial therapy causes facilitate the interaction between