Photo Credit: Freepik.com
“To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.”
– Confucius
The American Psychological Association defines a family unit as a collection of people who are related through blood, marriage, adoption, or other close relationships. Despite the fact that families are the basic social unit in the majority of human societies, their structure and design differ greatly. Our family has an impact on who we are and who we develop into. We pick up new words, routines, traditions, and ways of viewing and appreciating the world around us. These first significant connections teach us how to love and how to relate to others.
Most families maintain or regain a sense of wholeness and pleasure while dealing with some form of dysfunction at some point in their lives. When the dysfunction starts to affect members of the family and impact daily living, one can always consider family therapy and work on improving as a whole. As it is believed by Gestalt psychologists, it is the sum of parts that makes a whole.
A type of counselling called family therapy or family counselling is made to deal with particular problems impacting the well-being and operation of a family. It can be used to support a family during a challenging period, or a significant transition, or to address mental or behavioural health issues among family members (“Family Therapy”, 2014). Techniques and exercises from cognitive therapy, behaviour therapy, interpersonal therapy, or other forms of individual therapy may be used in family therapy. The strategies used will vary depending on the particular issues the Individual or family members present with.
It’s important to understand that children’s behavioural or emotional issues are frequently the cause of family therapy sessions. Children’s problems do not exist in a vacuum; they occur within the context of the family and will probably need to be addressed within that setting (Herkov, 2016).
Let us dive deeper into understanding what are the different kinds of Family therapy that exist:
Structural therapy concentrates on changing and enhancing the family system to make sure that the parents are in charge and that both kids and adults set proper boundaries. In this type of treatment, the therapist “joins” the family to observe, learn from, and develop their capacity to assist the family in building their bonds.
The term “systemic model” refers to a therapeutic approach that focuses on the underlying meanings and reasons behind the actions of family members. In this type of therapy, the therapist maintains a neutral, detached demeanour, enabling the family members to delve deeper into their issues and problems collectively.
When a person cannot or does not want to include other family members in the treatment, Bowenian family therapy is the most appropriate. Bowenian therapy is based on two key ideas: differentiation (being less emotionally reactive in family connections) and triangulation (the natural inclination to vent or express sorrow by speaking to a third party).
In contrast to the others, this type of therapy is shorter and more direct, and the family is given homework by the therapist. By analyzing and making changes to the family’s communication and decision-making processes, this task is meant to alter how family members interact with one another. In this kind of therapy, the therapist assumes the position of power, allowing other family members who might not typically hold as much power to speak more effectively (King, 2017).
On the whole, Family therapy’s main objective is to help your family as a whole repair any mental, emotional, or psychological issues that are ripping you apart (Lee, 2010). Family therapists work to assist individuals in enhancing communication, resolving family issues, comprehending and managing family situations, and building a better-functioning home environment in order to lead a family toward a healthier existence (Family Therapy, 2017A). Get in touch with a therapist to begin your journey to a healthier family life!
– Urveez Kakalia and Krupa Abraham.
Reference:
Carr, A. (2014). The evidence base for family therapy and systemic interventions for child‐focused problems. Journal of family therapy, 36(2), 107-157.
Herkov, M. (2016). About Family Therapy. Psych Central.
Kim-Appel, D., & Appel, J. K. (2015). Bowenian family systems theory: Approaches and applications. Foundations of couples, marriage, and family counseling, 185-213.
Colapinto, J. (2019). Structural family therapy. Encyclopedia of couple and family therapy, 2820-2828.
Mikulincer, M., Florian, V., Cowan, P. A., & Cowan, C. P. (2002). Attachment security in couple relationships: A systemic model and its implications for family dynamics. Family process, 41(3), 405-434.
Patterson, J. E., Abu‐Hassan, H. H., Vakili, S., & King, A. (2018). Family focused care for refugees and displaced populations: Global opportunities for family therapists. Journal of marital and family therapy, 44(2), 193-205.
Friedlander, M. L., Bernardi, S., & Lee, H. H. (2010). Better versus worse family therapy sessions as reflected in clients’ alliance-related behavior. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 57(2), 198.