💫 EXPERIENTIAL FAMILY THERAPY

Key Figures, Key Concepts, Satir Communication Stances, Interventions, Exam-Style Scenarios, Comparisons, Memorization Anchors

Experiential Family Therapy

A model emphasizing emotional expression, authenticity, and personal growth to create family change.

Core Belief

Change occurs through emotional experiencing, not insight alone.

Primary Focus

Emotional expression and self-esteem.

View of Symptoms

Symptoms result from emotional suppression and incongruence.

Therapy Goal

Increase emotional awareness, authenticity, and healthy connection.

Therapy Style

Active, emotional, spontaneous, and sometimes playful.

Time Orientation

Present-focused.

Focus Level

Individual experience within family context.

Virginia Satir

Focused on communication, self-esteem, and congruence.

Carl Whitaker

Emphasized spontaneity, therapist authenticity, and symbolic interventions.

Satir Model

Structured focus on communication patterns and self-worth.

Whitaker Model

More chaotic, experiential, and intuitive.

Congruence

Alignment between feelings, thoughts, and behavior.

Incongruence

Mismatch between inner experience and outward behavior.

Self-Esteem

Central determinant of healthy family functioning.

Here-and-Now

Focus on present emotional experience.

Emotional Expression

Encouraged to promote growth and healing.

Growth Model

Emphasis on health and potential rather than pathology.

Therapist Use of Self

Therapist’s authenticity is a tool for change.

Symbolic Communication

Use of metaphors, gestures, and emotional language.

Experiencing

Clients feel emotions in session, not just talk about them.

Placater

Attempts to please others to avoid conflict.

Blamer

Dominates or criticizes to feel powerful.

Computer

Overly rational and emotionally detached.

Distracter

Avoids emotional intensity through distraction.

Congruent Communicator

Balanced, authentic emotional expression.

Family Sculpting

Physically positioning family members to represent relationships.

Parts Party

Externalizing internal parts of a person.

Role Playing

Practicing new emotional responses.

Touch

Appropriate physical contact to convey support.

Reframing

Shifting meaning toward growth and hope.

Emotional Validation

Acknowledging feelings openly.

Therapist Self-Disclosure

Modeling authenticity.

Playfulness

Reducing defensiveness and promoting openness.

Scenario: “Therapist asks family to physically arrange themselves.”

Family sculpting.

Scenario: “Therapist encourages expression of sadness in session.”

Experiential focus.

Scenario: “Therapist openly shares feelings about the family’s interaction.”

Use of self.

Scenario: “Therapist identifies placating communication.”

Satir stance.

Scenario: “Therapist emphasizes self-worth over symptom removal.”

Experiential goal.

Scenario: “Therapist works in present emotions.”

Here-and-now focus.

Scenario: “Therapist avoids rigid structure.”

Experiential style.

Scenario: “Therapist prioritizes emotional growth.”

Growth model.

Experiential vs. CBT

Experiential focuses on emotion; CBT focuses on cognition.

Experiential vs. Structural

Experiential changes feelings; Structural changes organization.

Experiential vs. Bowenian

Experiential promotes emotional expression; Bowen promotes emotional regulation.

Satir vs. Whitaker

Satir is structured and nurturing; Whitaker is spontaneous and provocative.

Satir = Self-Esteem

Self-worth is central.

Whitaker = Wild

Spontaneous and unconventional.

Congruence = Match

Feelings, thoughts, behavior align.

Experience = Feel

Emotions must be felt to heal.

Therapist = Tool

Use of self is intentional.