Behavioral reactions that correct a deviation of the system and return it to the previous state of homeostasis.
What is Negative Feedback
This happens when members are well differentiated, anxiety is low, and partners are in emotional contact with their own families.
What is Normal Family Development/Optimal family development
Explores the rituals and rules of the family and how new patterns of interaction can be integrated into the family.
What is the role of the therapist
What happens
What is Reports
Anxiety is lowered within the current family system and between the current family and families-of-origin as a result of understanding multigenerational or current family dynamics.
What is Bowen's Theory of Change
Change that happens within the family system but has no effect on the system, leaving it unchanged.
What is first order change
The mechanism by which parental conflicts are projected onto a child or spouse.
What is the family projection process
These are subgroups based on gender, generation, and developmental tasks.
What are Alliances
A problem behavior from a child may elicit a response from a parent that continues the problem or worsens it.
What is feedback loops
Change occurs by helping the system view the family as the problem rather than an individual as the problem. The family system becomes the focal point of therapeutic interventions.
What is General Systems Theory
A man experienced the death of his mother when he was a young child, whereas a woman experienced the divorce of her parents when she was an infant. As adults, both of these individuals experienced Major Depression despite having different early experiences. What is this?
What is Equifinality?
Genograms, Homework, Therapist as coach or teacher, and "I" Position.
What are interventions
Restructure family system to allow for symptom relief and constructive problem solving. Change dysfunctional transactional patterns. Help create flexible boundaries.
What are treatment goals
Do something
What are commands
Change occurs by remodeling the family’s organization.
What is Structural Therapy
Move the system towards an equilibrium. Assist clients in identifying conflicts that are currently affecting them. Assist the family in exploring and recognizing defense mechanisms that help them deal with dysfunctional family behaviors or patterns.
What is GST
A triangle is formed - avoid taking sides. Couples need to be forced to deal with each other. The therapist takes an “I” position. Make non-reactive observations and statements of opinion.
What is the role of the therapist
Supporting someone who is in a one-down position, thus changing hierarchical position.
What is unbalancing
Maneuvers that are in apparent contradiction to the goals of therapy yet are actually designed to achieve them.
What is a therapeutic paradox
Change results from alterations in the family system, which is seen as maintaining the presenting problem; the system is changed as the therapist provides directives that alter patterns of communication between family members.
What is Strategic Therapy
In an effort to maintain homeostasis, the system participates in new behaviors, which then creates and reinforces negative communication patterns and exacerbate the problem.
What is positive feedback
This is Bowen’s term for flight from an unresolved emotional attachment.
What is emotional cutoff
A teenage boy has been acting out at school and was recently caught doing drugs by his friend’s mother. The boy’s mother recently admitted to having an affair outside of her marriage and has recently stopped coming home for nights at a time. The mother tells the family therapist that she can’t stop her son’s behaviors. The boy’s behavior is thus related to his mother’s lack of discipline and absence from the family.
What is complementarity
Becomes a part of the family system through joining and delivers directives that facilitate change, particularly around patterns of communication.
What is the role of the therapist
This is a brief, goal-directed therapy, with the focus of the conversation directed toward developing solutions that the client desires rather than focusing on the problems. Change is believed to be constant, and the therapy focuses on the client’s strengths and resources in order to create a more effective future.
What is Solution Focused Therapy