Intergenerational and Psychoanalytic Family Therapy

main assumptions

Biological and evolutionary basis

Examine early relationship and multi-generational processes

Change interactional patterns and behaviors learned early in life

viewing

assess family dynamics

sibling order

expected roles may suggest high levels of differentiation; older, younger, later

chronic anxiety

present in all systems; myst learn to respond not react

emotional triangles

dyad bring in third party to help manage tension/anxiety

emotional cut-off

withdrawal to manage tension/anxiety

intrapersonal differentiation

separate thoughts and feelings in order to respond rather than react

interpersonal differentiation

separate self from others’ thoughts and feelings

therapeutic relationahip

reliance on level of differentiation and self-as-therapist

interventions

genograms, embody theory, encourage I statements, de-triangulation, process questions, relational experiments

genograms

map generational patterns

going home again

test to measure level of differentiation