SRVHS

1
Family Therapy

• The Systems Approach

2
Paradigm Shift

• Person (Being) is inextricably linked to the
  system
• Individual psychology is obsolete

3
History and Background

• Anthropology
• Cybernetics
• Ecology
• Game Theory
• One-way mirror (bicameral model)

4
Paradigm Shift

• Circular causality (epistemology)
• Simultaneous, mutual causal process
• A B
• Einsteins universe
• not Linear causality
• A B
• Newtons Universe

5
Definition of System

• Unit of interacting parts (2 or more elements)

6
Definition of System

• Interact in patterned, stable manner through time
  despite fluctuations in the environment

7
Definition of System

• Ecosystem of family may include culture, police,
  hospital, employment, etc.

8
What is your system?

• Parents
• Siblings
• Family
• Friends
• Institutions
• Culture
• Society

9
System Elements

• Dyads
• Triads

Genograms
10
System Dynamics

• Homeostasis or Evolution
• Feedback controls system
• Negative stifles changemorphostasis
• Positive (deviance) maximizes changemorphogenesis

11
System Dynamics

• Dx troubled family usually in 1.morphostatic
  deadlock, sometimes 2.morphogenic runaway

12
System Dynamics

• Tx 1. Intro new patterns of behavior, or 2. add
  more structure, stability, pattern

13
System Dynamics

• Coalition Theory
• Collaborative
• Symmetrical
• complementary

M
F
C
14
System Dynamics

• Coalition Theory Perverse Triangles

M
F
C
15
The enmeshed family(Salvador Minuchin)

• Enmeshed Disengaged
• Over-resonant
• boundaries

16
The role of the symptom

• I.P. (identified patient)
• Symptom and system have reciprocal relationship
• Morphostatic or morphogenetic
• Solution to a deeper problem
• Expression of conflict, stress
• Emergence of symptom marks change

17
Tx Help system to recalibrate, usually through
promoting flexibility--break the cycle (spiral)

• Positive re-framing
• Clarifying communication
• Paradoxical intervention
• Prescribing the symptom
• Etc.