CH.11 Family therapy

Family Therapy

A method that helps families understand and improve their relationships.

Identified Patient

The family member who seems to have the most problems, representing the family's issues.

Alfred Adler

A psychologist who created a type of therapy focusing on family relationships.

Dysfunctional Family

A family where relationships are unhealthy and create problems.

Reciprocal Causality

How family members influence each other in a way that creates problems.

Circular Causality

Understanding that family interactions affect each other instead of just having a single cause.

Homeostasis

The way families try to stay stable and resist change.

Communication Patterns

The ways family members talk and connect, which can impact their relationships.

Self-Esteem

How much value a person places on themselves, important for healthy relationships.

Congruent Communication

Where what is said matches body language, helping others understand clearly.

Metacommunication

Talking about how we communicate with each other to improve understanding.

The Scapegoat

The family member who is unfairly blamed for family problems.

The Family Hero

The oldest child who tries hard to fix family issues and perform perfectly.

The Lost Child

The quiet family member who avoids the spotlight and feels ignored.

Enmeshment

When family members have very close relationships, making personal boundaries unclear.

Disengagement

When family members are emotionally distant from each other.

Differentiation of Self

Maintaining your own identity while still staying connected to family.

Triangulation

When a third person is pulled into a conflict between two family members.

Structural Family Therapy

A way of therapy that looks at family arrangements and rules to fix problems.

Family Rules

The guidelines that control how family members interact with one another.

Positive Feedback Loops

Patterns that encourage families to adapt and change for the better.

Negative Feedback Loops

Patterns that keep things the same and resist change in family dynamics.

Therapeutic Interventions

Actions taken by therapists to help families with their issues.

Virginia Satir

A therapist known for promoting love and good communication in families.

Human Validation Process Model

A way to help families communicate better and feel valued.

Functional Communication

Communication that is clear and direct, leading to better understanding.

Behavioral Interactions

How people's actions affect each other and their environment.

Genograms

Visual diagrams that show family relationships and dynamics.

Emotional Distance

Feeling disconnected from family members on an emotional level.

Coalitions

Alliances between family members that impact their relationships.

Family Homeostasis

The balance families maintain in their roles and interactions.

Psychosomatic Families

Families where emotional issues show up as physical health problems.

Parental Subsystem

The way parents interact with each other within the family.

Mixed Subsystem

Family setups that include various generations or roles.

Family Projection Process

When parents pass their emotional issues onto their children.

Societal Regression

How family dynamics relate to bigger social issues.

Therapeutic Atmosphere

The supportive environment created by therapists to encourage open discussions.

Positive Therapy Goals

Aims in therapy to build self-esteem, improve communication, and solve problems.

Symptoms as Metaphors

Seeing symptoms as signs of deeper issues needing resolution.

Directives in Therapy

Specific tasks given to clients in therapy to encourage change.

Dysfunction in Families

Unhealthy patterns in family interactions that cause stress.

Family Roles

The positions or jobs family members take on within the family.

Cultural Context

The overall culture that affects how families behave and interact.

Therapist's Role

Helping families understand and communicate better.

Therapeutic Change

The process of changing unhealthy family patterns for better relationships.

Assessment Techniques

Ways therapists examine family dynamics and issues.

Reframing

Looking at a problem in a new way to find positive solutions.

Enmeshment Scenario

A family where the parents are overly involved in their children's lives, making it difficult for the children to develop their own identities. The therapist works to establish healthier boundaries that encourage individuality.

Dysfunctional Family Dynamics

In a family with poor communication and frequent conflict, members play specific roles such as the Scapegoat or Family Hero. The therapist helps identify these roles and creates strategies for healthier interactions.

Triangulation Example

A child caught between arguing parents seeks comfort from a grandparent. The therapist helps the family recognize this triangulation and learn to address conflicts directly without involving the child.

Positive Feedback Loop

A family begins practicing open communication and supporting each other's goals, leading to improved relationships. The therapist encourages the continuation of these positive patterns.

Cultural Context Discussion

A family from a collectivist culture prioritizes family loyalty over individual desires. The therapist facilitates discussions on how cultural values influence dynamics and helps navigate individual needs.