Behavioral and Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy
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Chapter12FamilyTherapy.pptxExperiential Family Therapy
CHAPTER 12
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Experiential Family Therapy
Emerged out of the humanistic-existential psychology movement in the 1960s
Influenced heavily by Gestalt therapy, psychodrama, client-centered therapy, and the encounter group movement
Emphasizes affect.
A healthy family is one in which people openly experience life with each other in a lively manner
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Major Theorists
David Kantor
Frank Duhl
Bunny Duhl
Virginia Satir
Carl Whitaker
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Major Theorists
Bernard Guerney
Walter Kempler
Augustus Napier
Leslie Greenberg
David Keith
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Virginia Satir
Published her first book, Conjoint Family Therapy, in 1964
Described as a master of communication and originator of the family communications theory
Worked with more than 5,000 families, often in group family therapy
Her model of counseling is referred to as the human validation process model
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Carl Whitaker
Innovative, spontaneous, and unstructured
Main contribution was that of helping families get in contact with their absurdity
Challenged people to examine their view of reality
Since 1988, his approach has been called experiential symbolic family therapy
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Premises of the Theory
Families are not aware of their emotions or, if aware, they suppress them
Lack of emotional awareness and express leads to emotional deadness
The resolution is to emphasize sensitivity and feeling expression among family members
Emotional expressivity can be verbal but it often is manifested affectively or behaviorally
Emphasis placed on the present
Humanistic and phenomenological in origin, and also influenced by attachment theory
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Treatment Techniques
Therapists Who Use Few Techniques (e.g., Carl Whitaker):
Redefine symptoms as efforts for growth
Model fantasy alternatives to real-life stress
Separate interpersonal stress and intrapersonal stress
Add practical bits of intervention
Augment the despair of a family member
Promote affective confrontation
Treat children like children and not like peers
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Treatment Techniques
Therapists who use structured techniques (e.g., Virginia Satir)
Modeling of effective communication
Using “I” messages – involve the expression of feelings in a personal and responsible way and encourage others to express their opinions)
Leveling – congruent communication, in which straight, genuine, and real expressions of one’s feelings and wishes are made in an appropriate context
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Treatment Techniques
When leveling does not occur, people adopt four other roles:
Blamer: individual who attempts to place the focus on others and not take responsibility for what is happening
Placater: individual who avoids conflict at the cost of his or her integrity
Distractor: individual who says and makes irrelevant statements that divert attention from pertinent issues
Computer: rational analyzer who interacts only on a cognitive or intellectual level and acts in a “super-reasonable way
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Treatment Techniques
Sculpting:
Setting the scene: therapist helps the sculptor to identify a scene to explore
Choosing rule players: individuals are chosen to portray family members
Creating a sculpture: sculptor places each person in a specific metaphorical position spatially
Processing the sculpture: sculptor and other participants de-role and debrief about experiences and insights acquired through engaging in this exercise
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Treatment Techniques
Structured Techniques:
Choreography
Humor
Touch
Props
Family Reconstruction
Star or explorer and Guide
Tools for family reconstruction
Family map
Family life fact chronology
Wheel or circle of influence
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Other Experiential Techniques
Play Therapy
Filial Therapy
Family Drawings
Conjoint family drawing
Symbolic drawing of family life space
Puppet Interviews
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Role of the Therapist
Participate actively (less structured)
Facilitate or provide resources (structured)
Assist family members to discover their individuality and fid fulfilling rules for themselves
Establish an environment that communicates warmth, acceptance, respect, and hope
Help family members to clarify goals and to use their natural abilities
Likely to behave as real, authentic people
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Process and Outcome
Family members gain awareness of their needs and feelings and share them with others
Families members become more capable of autonomy and real intimacy through awareness of feelings
Helps family members fulfill roles for themselves without an overriding concern for the needs of the family as a whole
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Process and Outcome
The process differs for each experiential family therapist
Whitaker
Engagement
Involvement
Satir
Making contact
Chaos
Integration
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Unique Aspects of Experiential Family Therapy
Training Programs
Research
Length of treatment
Attention to emphasizing people as well as structures within the change process
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