Family therapy

Evolution of Family Therapy

  • Marriage Therapy

    • Emerged to address marital issues faced by couples.

    • Individuals turned to pastors, family doctors, teachers, and lawyers for help, but these approaches were often insufficient.

    • Shift towards couple therapy as a focused method to tackle marital conflicts directly.

Transition to Family Therapy

  • Broader Perspective

    • Recognition that issues in marriage often impact the entire family structure.

    • Importance of understanding family dynamics in addressing couple problems.

Collectivistic Cultures

  • Definition of Family

    • Traditional views equated family with child-rearing.

    • Modern views recognize couples, grandparents raising grandchildren, and extended family as valid family structures.

    • Emphasis on collectivism—valuing the group over the individual—as a key principle in family therapy.

  • Historical Context

    • Discusses the influence of collectivistic perspectives across cultures, particularly outside the Western milieu.

    • Acknowledges the historical existence of collectivism in the US among Indigenous peoples and during periods of communal reliance (e.g., WWII).

Research Influence on Family Therapy

  • Understanding Schizophrenia

    • Early treatments for schizophrenia led to revelations about communication styles in families.

    • Concept of Double Blind Communication:

      • Occurs when family members receive contradictory messages, creating internal conflict.

      • Example: "Be bold but be careful."

    • This pattern has implications for various mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Impact on Therapy Approach

  • Influence of Communication

    • Families with members experiencing schizophrenia often exhibit double blind communication patterns.

    • Understanding these dynamics assists in recognizing broader family communication issues.

Significant Developments (2000-2018)

  • New Ethics Codes

    • Adoption of new ethics codes that encouraged insurance companies to reimburse family therapy.

    • Resulted in increased accessibility and affordability of family therapy for clients.

  • Acceptance of Same-Sex Marriage

    • Legal protection and societal acceptance of same-sex marriage impacted family therapy practices, making care accessible to same-gender couples.

Key Figures in Family Therapy

  • Pioneers of Family Therapy

    • Acknowledges notable family therapists who shaped the field (names to be explored in detail during the course).

    • Encourages awareness of their contributions as the class progresses.