family therapy and circular questions

family therapy

therapy that helps families improve relationships and solve problems by looking at how family members infleuce each other

• family therapists work with indivduals, families, or communities

• focusing on the family system (systematic perspective) rather than the number of people in the session

modes of family therapy

structural

strategical

contextual

solution focused

narrative

cognitive-behanvioural couple/family therapy

psychodynamic (object relations) family therapy

emotionally-focused couple/family therapy

geneogram

a tool used to show families across generations and the patterns within them

captures:

• family structure

• relationships

• important life events

• patterns or problems

Patholgoizing internpersonal pattern (pip)

when two people get stuck in a repeated negative pattern in their relationship that causes stress or hurt

and both peoples reactions keep it going

example:

one person criticizes- the other gets defensive- the first cirtizies more- repeat

circular questions

goal is to help people see the problem in new ways and highlight change ad differences

• introduce new ideas into the family system to break old, stuck patterns

• do this but asking questions that encourage relfection and perspective-taking, not by giving the answers

circular questions vs regular direct questions

regular: about one persons experience

circular questions: about relationships and perspectives across people

example of regular direct question

what do you do when your parents argue?

example of circular

what does your sister do when she notices your parents arguing?

Healing interpersonal pattern (HIP)

opposite of PIP

postive patterns in relationships that stop negative cycles and encouragies healthier family interactions

• started by one person or the whole family

• not just how you act, also how you interpret others actions

• changes take practice- not automatic

example:

parents notice child withdrawing and responds with patience- child starts engaging- cycle improves