Mariana Garcia Torres
Psych 553
Experiential/ Humanistic Therapy Model
Virginia Satir
December 2014
EXPERIENTIAL /HUMANISTIC FAMILY THERAPY- VIRGINIA SATIR
The existential or humanistic psychology movement promoted emotional expression and enhance an individual growth. Hence, individual growth is supposed to improve communication across the family system. Experiential family therapy emphasizes immediate, here-and-now experience. Virginia Satir was one of the most influential therapists, and one of the leading figures in the development of a communications family therapy model.
Virginia Satir’s perspectives
Humanistic perspective:
• Goal of humanistic therapy is to increase awareness of options and potential.
• Make choices
• Increase
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o lack of warmth in the family o Couples live together in quiet desperation. o Adults don’t seem to enjoy their children.
• Low self-esteem in primary family triad becomes a main problem too. It promotes the use of inadequate communication strategies.
• Defensive behavior, as the basic drive of human beings is to defend against threats to their self-esteem.
• Dysfunctional Communication which reflects dysfunctional families: Virginia Satir argued that under stressful situations the relationship with another member varies and is different in terms of posture, verbal expression. She classified four types dysfunctional communication and created a four-stance model of dysfunctional communication under stress.
CATEGORY DESCRIPTION
Placater
This type of communication acts weak, tentative and always agrees, apologizes and tries to please.
Blamer outwardly domineering, insecure, always accusing and finger pointing to find fault in others
Super-reasonable This person assumes a rigid stance, stays detached, cam, cool and stay in control to avoid becoming emotionally involved in the
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• Differences have to be acknowledged and use for growth.
• Satir’s four meta-goals:
1. Raising the self-esteem of the clients.
2. Helping clients to be their own choice makers.
3. Helping clients to be more responsible.
4. Helping clients become congruent: Internal and external harmony; sense of calmness and wholeness.
What produces changes
• Each person contains all the resources one needs for growth and healthy. Therapy is one vehicle to harness these resources to help people change.
• Flexible and appropriate roles Open and hopeful links to society
• Change is always possible; it includes feelings, perceptions, and expectations.
• Experiential Therapy sessions: it brings a second level change. This involves a change in being, not only in doing or feeling.
• Poor coping is the problem. Improving patient’s coping strategies is the focus of the treatment instead of just solving client’s problems.
• Resolves the impact of negative experiences.
• Therapy is systemic, both intrapsychically and interactively.
• Most people choose familiarity over the discomfort or fear of change, especially during times of