VIGNETTES
Lena, now an adult, sat with her therapist, reflecting on her childhood. Her therapist explained how her mother’s responses to her early cues had shaped how she viewed relationships. As a toddler, Lena would cry when her mother left, but never sought comfort upon her return. This "avoidant" attachment style had affected her adult relationships, where she often kept people at a distance. By understanding how her early experiences with her caregiver shaped her attachment, Lena began to recognize the patterns in her own behavior and work on building healthier, more secure connections.
ATTACHMENT THERAPY
BOWEN FAMILY THERAPY
-Change through understanding multigenerational dynamics.
-Individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another, but rather as a part of their family.
-Family members are driven to achieve a balance of Internal and external differentiation, which causes anxiety, triangulation, and emotional cutoff.
- This can be changed by understanding multigenerational or current family dynamics and patterns.
Mia sat across from her therapist, feeling trapped by her constant struggle with food. Her therapist gently pointed out how societal pressures, family expectations, and her inner critic had been disempowering her for years. "With every challenge, there’s a strength," the therapist said, highlighting Mia's resilience and determination. Slowly, Mia began to see herself as her own ally, recognizing that she held the power to change. Through their partnership, Mia learned to trust her own instincts, realizing that she wasn’t just a patient, but an equal in her healing journey.
FEMINIST THERAPY
STRATEGIC FAMILY THERAPY
-Change occurs in the family through action-oriented directives and paradoxical interventions given by the therapist.
-The therapist takes an active and directive role to facilitate change, particularly around patterns of communication.
-The goals are to solve the presenting problem, eliminate symptoms, and to change dysfunctional patterns of interaction.
-Interventions include positioning, -restraining, and paradoxica directives.
James sat quietly in therapy, the weight of his past trauma pressing on every aspect of his life. It wasn’t just in his thoughts—it affected his relationships, his ability to focus at work, and even his body, tense and on edge. The therapist acknowledged how trauma had impacted his brain, emotions, and nervous system. Safety was the first priority; only when he felt secure in the space could they begin to heal. Through each session, James slowly regained control, learning how to cope, communicate, and rebuild his life with a sense of empowerment, understanding that the path to healing was both deep and gradual.
TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPY
TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPY
-Looks at the complex impact trauma has on a client, including how it affects their efforts to cope and function in all areas of life. Integrates the impact of trauma into every aspect of treatment.
-Looks at the psychological, neurological, biological,-- and interpersonal effects of trauma.
-Includes the view of the client having been hurt by someone or something.
-Emotional/psychological and physical safety is crucial, and treatment should not begin while the trauma is still occurring; safety must be established first.
-Treatment focuses on clients gaining back control and empowerment in their lives.
During a tense family session, the therapist noticed Sarah and her father falling into their usual pattern of blame and withdrawal. Without hesitation, she intervened, telling Sarah to exaggerate her frustrations in a way that highlighted their absurdity. When Sarah reluctantly complied, her father laughed, breaking the tension. The therapist then asked him to “resist” any urge to withdraw and instead stay engaged. As they shifted their roles, the dysfunctional pattern started to crack. By guiding them through paradoxical interventions, the therapist created a shift, helping the family confront their issues with a new perspective and clearer communication.
STRATEGIC FAMILY THERAPY
FEMINIST THERAPY
-Change occurs through recognizing disempowering social forces and empowering the client.
-The therapist helps the client recognize these disempowering forces or influences, a process which can ultimately empower the client.
-The therapist recognizes that with every symptom there is a strength and also shows the client that they are their own rescue and equal to therapist.
-Good for eating disorders.
Lena sat at the dinner table, frustrated by her mother’s constant criticism. But when she took a step back, she saw the same pattern repeated across generations—her grandmother had distanced herself emotionally, her mother overcompensated, and now Lena felt trapped in the middle. Understanding this multigenerational dynamic shifted her perspective. Instead of clashing, she communicated her need for space while acknowledging the family’s history. Gradually, the anxiety, triangulation, and emotional distance began to ease. By recognizing the past’s influence, Lena was able to break the cycle and find a new way to relate.
BOWEN FAMILY THERAPY
ATTACHMENT THERAPY
-A model for understanding how relationships with early caregivers impact our long term functioning.
- How a caregiver responds to an infant's/toddler's cues Used to shapes assess that the child bond 's view between of the mother world.
-Used to assess the between mother and child by observing how the child responds when their caregiver leaves and returns to the room.