Family Analysis : The Family Crucible

The family system is founded on the notions that for change to occur in the life of an individual, the therapist must understand and work with the family as a whole. In working with the family, the therapist can understand how the individual in counseling functions within his family system and how the client’s behaviors connect to other people in the family. This theory also holds the perception that symptoms are a set of family habits and patterns passed down by generation and not a result of a psychological problem or an inability to change (Corey, 2017). Furthermore, the family system theory holds the idea that when a change occurs everyone in the unit is affected by the change.

The basic concepts of this type of therapy are boundaries, subsystems, complementary and alignments which are easily applied and grasped. The most important aspect the therapist must keep in perspective is that every family is made up of structure and that these structures are seen only when the members of the family interact. If the therapist does not consider the entire structure of the family and intervene in only one of the many subsystems are most likely not to attain a lasting change.

My first assumption of family therapy was to involve the parents and the individual that had the problem. This book explored further what it

While reading The Family Crucible, the authors made it feel like I was watching a life-time television series. There were several high points and low points during the family therapy session that left me unsure of how the show would end. This book takes you on a journey using family counseling to help a family heal and communicate better with one another. I thought it was interesting how this systematic therapy took place in a time where therapy was looked at as taboo. Many times in that era family therapy was not an option. The main focus was on the family member with the issue and not on the parents or other family members. In the book the authors used different theories and approaches during the counseling sessions which were quite interesting. This process after time enabled the family to look at the journey they were on in order to understand how the family, as a whole, should function.

A difficulty with Family Systems therapy is the lack of dealing with individual issues. The problem is addressed from the perspective of developing and resolving interpersonal issues among family members. This approach has the possibility to overlook issues that are unique to one individual. A sense of personal perspective may be lost as the therapist looks to understand the systems, and subsystems within the family constellation.

therapy aims to improve family relations, and the family is encouraged to become a type of

Structural family therapy is one of the many therapeutic interventions used with troubled families. The name isn’t an easy one to say, nor is it a type of therapy that is used often in Hollywood but structural family therapy is like most other types of family systems therapies under the psychological category. The different types of therapies have a larger view of family as a whole that lives and operates within a larger community, culture, and organization. The family system will thrive over time and make changes ideally. Most times a family is not able to get out of the hole it has placed itself in which turns out to be related to behavioral or mental health issues of one of its family members. Aside from keeping the focus on the individual family member’s mental stability, structural family therapy centers around the problems in the structure of the family, the issues in the way the family communicates. Structural family therapy refuses to maintain that the family’s communication, or transactions are the root of the problem, instead the family’s transactions encourage the issues within the family.

The purpose of this paper it to demonstrate how the therapist will apply structural family therapy theory based on the fourth session with the Vargas Family. Therapist will analyze the presenting problem and choose what intervention fits well for the family. The therapist will focused on two current presenting problems for the Vargas family. The therapist will then use the problem a continued to use the structural family therapy. The therapist will also disclose what intervention she would use next session when meeting with the Vargas Family.

Developing a relationship with the family which is characterized by increased kinship and trust is extremely important. (Sommers-Flanagan, 2012) The therapist focuses on the family’s subsystems and boundaries to understand and change the family structure. The therapist adapts a unique family style of relating and creates personal adjustments to foster meaningful connections within the family. (Sommers-Flanagan, 2012) The therapist will join the family (mimesis). The therapist will try to fit in with the family and set a foundation for an open and trustworthy relationship. The therapist will conceptualize the family’s structure, identify the scapegoat and study the family mapping (the member in most power, coalitions in place, sources of conflicts, etc.). The therapist will evoke family enactments and understand the family’s organization. The therapist will then intervene by re-structuring the family. (Sommers-Flanagan,

Structural family therapy works to organize the family, so the family members can be able to better deal with their own problems. The goal of this therapy is structural change. Within the family structural there is a process model which is where the pattern of conversation being. The reason why me and my group members choose this theory because there is a distance between the daughters and their mother and there is some conflict between the auntie and the mother as well. In the Scott family, in order to connect them back together is by letting each family members speak upon their problems so everyone can see the difference of their feelings and set boundaries among the members. Every family has a common structural goal, but the most important thing is the creation of the hierarchy. In the family, auntie Layla seem to be in charge instead of the mother because the Layla is playing the mother

Through research and gathering an understanding of structural family therapy the the therapist will be able to identify the hierarchy within the family unit, identify what subsystems are present, as well as where does each family member fall as it pertains to boundaries. The agents of change will be the family members in partnership with the therapist and (b) the family therapist entity in partnership with extrafamilial helpers (Gehart, 2014,

Structural therapy is a family treatment model founded on the frameworks of systems theory. The distinctive component of this model is the emphasis it has placed on structural adjustments as the primary objective of the therapy session. This emphasis is prominent over details of adjustments in individual behaviors. This model is distinctive because the therapist is the most active agent and receives much attention in the course of family restructuring (Lock & Strong, 2012).

A family’s structure is as unique as each individual that is a part of it. In order to adequately assist a family a comprehensive understanding of their behavior, development, and concerns must be formulated. Though a holistic and clinical understanding of the family does not offer any specific therapy interventions, the insight it reveals does help guide the clinician to recognize what type of intervention might be most effective when working with the family. This paper will outline a case in order to integrate theory and evidence based practice as they apply to social work practice. The case of the Andersons will be presented in this paper, though names and details have been changed to protect client confidentiality.

Modern family is an American TV show that started in 2009 on ABC channel. Since then, this comedy show is one of the most watched shows in TV nowadays; so far it has won 22 Emmy awards from 75 nominations. Personally, this is one of my favorites TV shows ever because it is extremely funny but also it portrays its tittle, you actually see a modern family: its diversity, its struggles, its attachment, and so on. I really love this show because it is for any type of audience, children will laugh as hard as a grandpa. I think that through this show our young generations can actually learn a little bit more about family and its diversity and at the same time having fun. I personally know few families that will watch it every Wednesday at 9:00pm

In the strategic and structural family therapies, the therapist’s position was not extensively discussed. However, there has been an emphasis for the therapist to be respectful and empathic in session. For instance, a structural family therapist, in order to produce change, needs to first join with the family members. In joining, the therapist conveys acceptance and respect of family members and their ways of doing things. In this manner, the Milan group’s concept of neutrality is connected with the structural therapy’s concept of joining. The intent for both therapists is also to allow the family members to listen to each other’s stories. While in neutrality, it is a stance that is undertaken throughout the therapeutic process, the structural therapist may move into realigning the boundaries and restructuring the hierarchies in the family. To achieve that, the structural therapist may at times align with one family member. This is where neutrality ends for the structural therapist.