TYPES OF THERAPIES

BOWERIAN FAMILY SYSTEMS:

Approach to “ Family Therapy” developed by psychiatrist Murray Bowen.

To balance forces of togetherness and individuality for the purpose of creating health and success within the family system, as well as for each family member in that system.

This approach focuses on maintaining the system, along with the homeostasis of the system.

A central tenant of this approach is that the family is an emotional unit that individual behavior must be considered from the context of the family. Additionally, too much togetherness creates confusion and prevents individuality or the ability to develop one's own sense of self. Too much individuality creates a distant and estranged family..

This, like most Family Therapies tend to be brief and solution focused. The focus is on HERE AND NOW interactions with the FAMILY SYSTEM. Family's are meaning makers and each member learns how to be in the world through their relationship with their family.

In FAMILY SYSTEMS THERAPY, the following elements are critical for success.

  • Family System - the family's cohesiveness, how each person belongs, their place in the system, their communication, the validation each receives is vital.

  • Avoid blame. Instead, look for patterns. Don't buy into their projections.

  • Observe, taking care to NOT judge each participants…

  • *Interactions - how do they interact with and/or behave with each other?

  • *Family structure - who is aligning with who. Look at family role.

  • *Boundaries - are they Enmeshed? Respectful?

  • Decide how transparent or involved you want to be. Remember, sharing of personal experiences should always be in service to the client.

  • Cultural influences are critical - look for intergenerational issues. Is growth or change allowed? Must create an atmosphere of safety in light of the change that must happen.

BRIEF FAMILY SYSTEMS THERAPY- is a very directive version of FAMILY SYSTEMS THERAPY that is limited to 10 sessions or less.

ALTERNATIVE TERMS: Bowerian Family Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, Brief Family Systems Therapy, Systems Therapy.



SYSTEMIC THERAPY:

Also referred to as Milan -style family therapy, is a therapeutic concept developed by the Milan Associates, based on the research and theories of MRI’s (MENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE) Gregory Bateson, as well as family systems therapy concept

It's approached leans towards addressing problems as they are created in a social and linguistic influenced reality. It's focus is on how a person's behavior patterns, personal relationships, and Life choices are interconnected with the issues they face in their life. It's goal is to help people achieve livable agreements suited to their interests, priorities, concerns and needs.

Systemic therapy is sometimes used as an umbrella term to cover the different types of couples or family therapy.

*MILAN ASSOCIATES- is compromised of a group of associates dedicated to the process of De- institutionalizing madness with the use of family therapy. Sounded in 1971, it's initial team of associates with composed of four psychoanalysts including Luigi buscolo, Guliana prata, Mara salvini, and Gianfranco Cecchin.

They adopted the systemic frame, MRI’s pragmatic model, systems theory, family changes, loyalties, communication and feedback as their primary models for treatment.

The MILIAN MODEL offers therapist a way of observing patterns of family techniques and interactions for the purpose of making therapeutic interventions.

Milan Associates’ therapeutic concepts include the following which were incorporated into their development of systemic therapy:

  • Long brief therapy - approximately 10 sessions held once a month

  • Each session lasted 2 to 4 hours

  • Circular questioning

  • Focus on language and communication

  • Boundary work

  • The work continues to evolve as the family system changes.

  • Focus on differing viewpoints, behaviors, and relationships.

ALTERNATIVE TERMS: systemic family therapy, Milan and style family therapy, Milan style therapy.