Structural Family Therapy

Subsystems

Based on generations, gender, and function

Goal of structural therapy

Structural change; problem solving is a by- product -Alter the organization so they can solve their own problems. -Create an effective hierarchy: parents should be in charge not related to the children as equals. -Enmeshed families: differentiate individuals/subsystems with strengthen the boundaries. -Disengaged families: increase contact my making boundaries more permeable.

Structural Family Therapy (Salvador Minuchin)

Therapist *joins* the family by accommodating their style and understanding the family's views. Therapist helps structural change by adjusting boundaries and realigning subsystems. Enactments are used to reveal structural patterns. The therapist must work with what they see, rather than of what the family tells them. *Offers a blueprint to family dynamics*

Enmeshed subsystems

-Offer closeness -No independence -Diffuse boundaries -Family members become dependent on each other -Intrusive parents can stunt their child's development & interfering with their ability to solve problems. *Enmeshed & Disengaged tends to be reciprocal: A father who is overly involved a work may neglect his family*

Reframing

-Reconstructing family deficits into family strengths. Relabel what occurs (Change is 2nd order change-reconstructing the family over time, changing boundaries and making structural system changes.

Sibling subsystem Needs

-Right to privacy, own interest, & free to make mistakes -Developmental stages have different needs- accommodate each child's needs. *Goal is for child to have age appropriate behavior*

Disengaged subsystems

-Rigid boundaries -Independent but isolated -Fosters autonomy but limits affection and support -Must be under extreme stress before they mobilize assistance ( These parents may be unaware if a child is depressed or doing poorly in school) If a parent is disengaged they are likely preoccupied elsewhere, mom grief stricken over husbands death- disengaged from son.

Mimesis

-Share personal stories similar to theirs -Use same body posture to align with family members "Convey we are very much alike"

Therapy Technique

-Starts intervention with first phone call -Therapists becomes part of the family system *joining* -Attentive and responsive to family members

What three constructs define structural therapy?

-Structure -subsystems -boundaries

Sibling subsystems Benefits

-children learn how to negotiate, cooperate & compete with peers through their siblings -how to achieve recognition of their skills -learn how to make friends & allies through siblings -An only child may have difficulties in developing autonomy & ability to share, cooperate, & compete with others

What are families organized in?

-subsystems with boundaries that regulate the contact family members have with each other.

Family dynamics for new union

1) *Accommodation*: Mutual- where to live, have children?, what to watch on TV, when to go to bed. 2) *Boundary making*: Between them & them from the outside. -Normal families experience anxiety & disruption as their members grow and change.

Alignments

1) *Coalition*: 2 align against a 3rd may be cross generational (Mother/daughter against husband) 2) *Triangulation*: any 2 members in conflict draw in 3rd to compete for the 3rds alliance.

Structured family therapy follow these steps

1) Joining and accommodating 2) Enactment 3) Structural mapping 4) Highlighting & modifying interactions 5) Boundary making 6) Unbalancing 7) Challenging unproductive assumptions

Clear boundaries

-A hierarchical structure in which parents occupy a position of leadership. -Enables children to interact with their parents but excludes them from the spouse subsystem.

Power

-Ability to carry out function -Related to boundaries and alignment -Cross coalitions decreases power of parent to carry out function/authority.

Unbalancing

-Align with member who is in position of lower power -Support one family member at the expense of others to alter family structure. -Taking sides -Fire the family hero

Parental subsystems

-Children learn to negotiate in situations of unequal power. -Parents need to determine the family rules- this secures the child's ability to develop autonomy Therapists help subsystems negotiate and accommodate to each other

Types of boundaries

-Clear -Rigid/disengaged -Diffuse/enmeshed

Diffuse boundaries

-Couple who call each other multiple times at work, neither have their own friends or independent activities, they view themselves only as a pair rather than as two separate individuals.

Identified patient

-Family wishes to change the behavior of the individual family member. -This individual is viewed as a symptom of the dysfunctional family system.

Other subsystems

-Genders: all the women -Interest: sports -Function: all who do outside chores What are each of their rules & how do they affect the family

Enactments

Family members are encouraged to deal directly with each other in sessions, permitting the therapist t observe and modify their interactions.

Complementarity

For disengaged families -Interconnectedness, align with person with problem, how they influence each other. -Increases awareness of the relationship. Ex: Wife complaints husband is not spending enough time with her; Have wife make spending time with her more more appealing.

Boundaries (key concepts)

Invisible barriers that regulate contact with others. -Rules of who participates and how -Permeability of boundary -clear, rigid, diffuse

Rigid boundaries

Restrictive and permit little contact with outside subsystems, resulting in *disengagement* (A couple who spend little time together, have separate bedrooms, take separate vacations, different ck accounts, more invested in careers or outside relationships)