U05a1 Model Description and Application Outline Draft
Provide a brief overview of the history of the selected model and its founders, and discuss the essential ideas of the approach. Cite original sources, and be sure to answer questions such as:
• What is the role of the counselor? The role of the counselor in Experiential Family Therapy is to facilitate an experience and break down any inhibitions that have been built. As for Whitaker, therapy is an art, and he recommends substituting for theory faith in one’s own experience and the ability to allow the process of therapy to unfold in an authentic and genuinely responsive manner (Becvar & Becvar, 2013, p. 160).
• What is the theory of change?
Therapy is thus a growth process in
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Redefining symptoms as efforts for growth
2. Modeling fantasy alternatives to real-life stress
3. Separating interpersonal stress and intrapersonal stress
4. Adding practical bits of intervention
5. Augmenting the despair of a family member
6. Utilizing affective confrontation
7. Treating children like children and not your peers
- The role of the counselor from the model or approach selected
For the case study of Beckie and Michael and their three children the family is included in the problem. The family members are taught how to use fantasy to expand their emotional repertoire, and they learn to take risks. The family is offered ideas it may feely accept or reject (Becvar & Becvar, 2013, p. 163). So this will give them free reign to express their emotions to each other.
- Theory of change from the model or approach
The theory of change from the model or approach for Beckie and Michael is emphasized regarding the use of experiment with the whole counseling experience to be as ‘an experiment’. With the use of the paradox, Whitaker aims to escalate the pressure in order to produce a psychotic-like episode so that the client is impelled to reintegrate in a new and more meaningful way (Becvar & Becvar, 2013, p. 162-163). Beckie and Michael will have the opportunity relieve their emotional burdens and really talk to each other and not feel pressured by the unmentionable ‘blame game’
A therapist who works from a family system perspective takes on the role of teacher, model and consultant (Corey, 2017). The therapist is active in forming a relationship with the family by acknowledging and
When we are speaking about Carl Whitaker (1988) and his Symbolic-Experiential Family Therapy, we can say he was against labeling of the individual´s existence problems by a simple behavior, cognition, or following a specific psychology model. Luepnitz (2002) express he went further when he emphasized that psychopathology was only a distraction from the real-existential problems faced by most of the families. Whitaker was called as an innovator when he introduced his controversial therapy, but was also extensively criticized. His therapy focus in “present-centeredness” and open clients dealing with their family problems, how they perpetuate their past problems, and how perceived and communicated when playing the role of coach.
Thought lecher and the course reading material, this semester has increased my knowledge about a variety of techniques and theories. While reading, The Family Crucible: The Intense Experience of Family Therapy, there were several themes that could be commonly characterized in family therapy and the scenario of this book. Some of these techniques were, triangulation, resistance, transference, stress, and using or having a scapegoat (singling out one individual). Furthermore, some of the theories connected from this course to The Family Crucible: The Intense Experience of Family Therapy were, General Systems Theory, and Family Systems Theory.
The main focus of this essay has to be on the three ‘core conditions’, as utilised by the counsellor to promote a positive movement in their client’s psychology. They are intended for maintaining a focus on the client’s personal growth, and detract from the therapist’s own outside world. The three core conditions are the professional apparatus or tool-kit of the therapist, and the use of each is a skill in itself but the combined forces of all three in an effective manner requires an abundance of skill or experience. These are, as have already been mentioned, congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy. They are separate skills but are intrinsically linked to each other. If used correctly, they can guide the client to a state of self-realisation, which could lead to the development of a healing process.
Experiential family theory is about the experiences that a family goes through in therapy and what it symbolizes to them. Experiential family theory is also well known as symbolic experiential family theory because the theory is about what the family takes out of the experience and what they use to describe their family. According to Smith (1998), the founder, Carl Whitaker, felt that it was the therapist’s responsibility to create these experiences in the sessions to help the family grow. Carl Whitaker accomplished this with impulse and creativity. He understood the family unit and knew that families could be cruel, but he believed the family had the ability to restore their family unit (Percy, 1990). The theory is not a traditional one,
This paper evaluates the Structural Family Therapy model and its impact on the Emotionally Focused Therapy by Sue Johnson. This paper will discuss the concepts of therapy utilized within the Structural Family Therapy model and how Sue Johnson utilized many of its methods when constructing Emotionally Focused Therapy model. The history of family therapy will be evaluated and the goals of family therapy. Research has proven that due to these clinical practices, families and couples are allowed to evolved issues in which they face into healthy relationships by evaluating patterns in behaviors and past events in their lives. Therapy focuses on the correction of the dysfunctional family as a cohesive unit and does not place focus on the individual. Therefore we find the psychotherapy as a family unit deems to be more effective than previous practices of an isolated session with only the patient and therapist.
The counselor will ask questions to clarify and summarize the family’s concerns. I will answer any questions and address any concerns raised by the family about the therapy process. I will also assist in laying down parental authority and a sense of impartiality among the children. This will reinstate equilibrium in the family and motivate all members to participate in the therapy.
Family therapy is a technique that has many alternative approaches to every aspect of treatment which Nichols (2014), states may present a challenge when describing a basic technique. The two models of family therapy in which I feel that I would be most effective and comfortable with would be, experiential family therapy and solution-focused brief therapy. I feel most comfortable with these models because, I adapt to the role of the therapist of both therapies naturally. According to Nichols (2014), when families seek therapy they are stuck in a life-cycle transition, sometimes they are obvious and sometimes they are not obvious. I’ve found that during the first session an excellent question is to ask the client why now so that they can
When comparing and contrasting the differences in the three approaches, I will review the relationship between client and counsellor. I will attempt to discover how the relationship is formed and how it is maintained during the therapeutic process. Once this has been established, I will then look at how the changes occur in the therapeutic relationship and which techniques will be used. I will compare and contrast the approaches of Carl Rogers, Sigmund Freud and Albert Ellis. I will look at how their theories have impacted on the counselling processes in modern times and throughout history.
The direct role of the strategic family therapist is more invasive than any other therapist. In the strategic family therapy the therapist spends most of their time giving attention directly to the family to focus on their challenges. The role of the strategic family therapist provides solutions to the client’s issues. As a strategic family therapist it important that the therapist focuses on the core issues within the family. The therapists will start interventions based on the needs of the family. The main concerns of the strategic therapist are the functionality of the family. The basic role of the therapist is problem solving in therapeutic sessions. This will enable the therapist to motivate family members to work towards
Becvar, D. & Becvar R. (2009). Family therapy: a systemic integration. (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.
This essay will begin with a short background on Carl Rogers and Fritz Perls and an overview of the beginnings of their approaches to counselling followed by a discussion on their views on the theory of personality and problems in living then a discussion on Rogers and Perls theory of change. I will then give a personal evaluation on each theorist’s strengths and weaknesses and include which approach would be the most beneficial for
Experiential family therapy (EFT) was first developed in the 1960’s by physician and psychotherapy pioneer Carl Whitaker and is aimed at helping individual family members feel fulfilled and self-actualized within the family unit by means of improving cooperation and intimacy among family members. Unlike other schools of family therapy, EFT does not focus on the perceived problems of individual family members but examines how family interactions and communications cause problems for the individual family members. It is important to remember that, due to the level of interpersonal involvement needed in this style of therapy it requires every family member involved to fully participate in the process. For optimum effectiveness, the family should already be relatively stable.</p> Whitaker’s approach to EFT is known as the symbolic-experiential model. This model emphasizes immediate, here-and-now experiences rather than the introspective methods of earlier theories and promotes emotional expression as a medium of shared experience and as a means of both personal and family fulfillment. Symbolic-experiential family therapy is predicated on the existential idea that there is a great deal more to a family’s dynamics and existence than is empirically observable; unconscious dynamics, histories of shared and individual experiences, secrets, etc. This model attempts to integrate two different aspects of human experience; experience and “symbols.” Experience is what is taken in
Experiential therapy emerged from the humanistic wing of psychology that was focussed on the immediate, here-and-now experience, which was most popular in the 1960's and 70's. Therapists focussed on the needs of the individual as they attempt to facilitate family interaction, resulting in the individuality of each member. As Becvar and Becvar (2000) asserted, the hallmarks of experiential family therapy were the importance of individuality, personal freedom and self-fulfillment (pp.181).
My theoretical approach to family therapy is very integrative as I believe families cannot be described nor treated from a single-school approach. I view humans through a humanistic and existential lens but am more technically structural and solution-based. With this integrative approach, I believe I will be the most effective in helping families grow and reach their goals.