Theories Of Family Counseling

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Family counseling draws on systems thinking in its perspective of the family as an emotional unit. When systems thinking, which assesses the portions of a system in relation to the whole, is related to families, it proposes behavior is both informed by and indivisible from the performance of a client’s family of origin. Families facing a struggle within the family unit and looking for professional help to address the problems may find family counseling a helpful approach. Within family counseling there are four family system approaches: systems, structural, strategic, and communications. Family System Aprroach Family counseling centers on, and is best defined as, the family and its members’ interactions and relations (Henderson & Thompson, …show more content…

There are eight concepts that form its foundation (Henderson & Thompson, 2018): 1. Differentiation of self - refers to the manner in which a person is able to separate thoughts and feelings, respond to anxiety, and cope with the variables of life while pursuing personal goals. 2. Detriangulation of Self from the family emotional system - represents the smallest stable network of human relationship systems (larger relationship systems can be perceived as a network of interlocking triangles). It also refers to two family members bring a third into a conflict situation. 3. Nuclear Family Emotional Process - refers to how the family system operates to handle anxiety and stress in times of …show more content…

The power struggle does not involve who controls but who defines the relationship. Strategic family therapy blends a strategic approach to discovering a positive form of change for individuals within the individual’s family. The strategic therapists are active problem-solvers and solution-finders directly involved like a coach or referee. They are normally not worried about where or how the issue started, only how to address and solve the problem at the present point in time. Strategic family therapy reproduces family exchanges and communications, encouraging and engaging family members with provoking questions and discussions. During these sessions, issues present themselves, and the therapist coaxes the situation so that family members come to recognize and appreciate the socially impaired interactions taking

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