Foundational Concepts
This term describes the roadmap of how and why change occurs in therapy.
What is the Theory of Change?
This model emphasizes altering family structure to bring about change.
What is Structural Family Therapy?
In Structural Therapy, this is a key change agent achieved by the therapist joining the system.
What is restructuring?
Bowen therapists use this tool to map intergenerational patterns.
What is a genogram?
This is a commonly used term for evidence that therapy is working.
What is progress or outcome?
This foundational MFT concept sees problems not in individuals but in these.
What are relationships or systems?
This model sees change as arising through shifts in communication patterns.
This model sees change as arising through shifts in communication patterns.
In EFT, this process of experiencing and expressing attachment-related emotions leads to change.
What is emotional engagement or enactment?
In Narrative Therapy, this technique helps clients separate themselves from their problems.
What is externalizing?
In Bowen Theory, increased this is an indicator of successful change.
What is differentiation of self?
In MFT, this term describes the smallest relational system typically considered.
What is the dyad or couple?
This model’s Theory of Change involves accessing and reorganizing emotional experiences.
What is Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)?
Strategic Therapy may rely on these types of paradoxical interventions to provoke change.
What are directives or symptom prescriptions?
Structural therapists often rearrange boundaries through these.
What are enactments?
EFT considers the creation of this between partners as a primary change indicator.
What is a secure emotional bond?
This term refers to a therapist's informed assumptions about how clients get better.
What is a clinical hypothesis?
This model focuses on intergenerational patterns and differentiation of self.
What is Bowen Family Systems Theory?
This therapeutic stance involves creating a safe and validating context for change, particularly in humanistic models.
What is unconditional positive regard or empathy?
In Strategic Therapy, this is the use of therapist-designed tasks to disrupt problematic cycles.
What is a directive?
Solution-Focused Therapy often ends when these are reached and sustained.
What are client-defined goals?
The Theory of Change is often contrasted with this term, which outlines the specific steps of treatment.
What is the Theory of Therapy (or Theory of Intervention)?
In Narrative Therapy, change occurs when clients do this to dominant problem-saturated stories.
What is re-author (or externalize)?
A therapist working from a Solution-Focused approach emphasizes this as a key step in mobilizing client resources.
What is identifying exceptions or strengths?
This systemic technique helps families observe themselves in action, often used in Milan therapy.
What is circular questioning?
This concept refers to observable shifts in family interaction patterns that indicate systemic change.
What is second-order change?