W4 Assg.

H

Walden University

NRNP-6650

Sep, 2020.

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to compare structural family therapy to strategic family therapy, give an example of a family in the practicum site using a structural family map, and recommend a specific therapy for the family. 

Essential Points of Structural and Strategic Family Therapies

According to Barker & Chang (2013), Structural and Strategic family therapies are therapeutic approaches that professional therapists utilize during group sessions to interact with family members to address emotional, mental, and psychological challenges in the family. Both approaches use system thinking to perceive the family as a complete unit, and the family members make up the unit. As one unit, members of the family share pains and problems together due to the emotional connections. The way family functions influence the members' behaviors, and how each member displays their character ultimately causes differences that can lead to disagreement. The therapists utilize the two approaches to maneuver and settle differences, disputes, and conflicts that can cause the unit to breakdown during therapy. 

Comparison

           Both family therapies have some similarities and differences. Both approaches use system thinking to perceive the family as one unit, and the family members make up the unit, meaning family share pains and problems due to the emotional connection. The two therapies target the family problem as responsible for the dysfunction and a threat to break the unit. According to Nichols (2010), the therapist's commitment is to observe the issue affecting the family's relationship and intervene by interrupting the glitch and impairment to regain and re-establish normal function back in the family. The third similarity is that the two approaches recognize the subtle order set up in the family structure due to age, gender, finances, power, and relationship pattern in the unit among the family members. The ranking structure is necessary to gain insight into the impairment and flaw/malfunction existing among the family members and initiate appropriate, acceptable mediation (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2015). The strength of the structural approach is the therapist interacting with family members directly during the session. The strategic approach's strength is to handling issues that have not advanced within a short time frame due to its problem-focused methodology. The weakness of the structural approach it takes extended time in embarking on this type of therapy. 

               The two therapies use different therapeutic approaches depending on the role of the therapist. In the structural approach, the therapist assesses the interaction existing between the family members by harmonizing and participating as an integral component of the family. In the strategic approach, the therapist observes the interaction and communication styles within and outside the therapy and allows the family to develop intervention on gaining insight into the problem. Secondly, because each family issue has its peculiar maladaptive dynamics, the structural therapy objective is to evaluate the family structure to resolve the dysfunction. In comparison, strategic therapy evaluates the relationship among the family members to resolve the problem. The third significant difference is that the strategic therapy approach is shorter because it concentrates more on resolving the family problem. The strategy therapy's objective is to explore conflicts among individual members in the family and develop a lasting solution to the problem (Thompson, 2016). Nevertheless, the structural therapy approach uses family mapping as intervention tools and measures to explore the functional family expectations without purposefully resolving the members' problem. The therapist achieves this by placing distinctive expectations and roles on family members that lower conflicts, thereby improving interactions. 

Example of Structural Family MAP

The structural map describes a couple that is married for over seventeen years. The husband, MT, because of COVID-19, lost his job recently. The wife, TT, is self-employed and does hair for a living. The couple has a 16 years old son RT and a thirteen-year-old daughter, AT. RT (the son) died nine months ago due to gang-related issues. MT, the father, suffers from depression and blames himself for the inability to function as the head of the family and ensure the family's safety that would have saved his son's life. MT, the mother, suffers from maternal guilt and resorts to drinking to dampen her guilt, pain, and anxiety. AT is ridden with shame, depression, and anxiety because she knew about RT's gang association but did not disclose it to the parents. MT blames her husband for failing to take care of the family's needs. The family is sorrowful and are having difficulty moving on since the death of RT. The family attends therapy twice weekly and is consistent with the schedule in attending the family session. 

Strategic family therapy would be appropriate for addressing the family's needs. In a strategic approach, the therapist observes both interactions and communication patterns within the family members both within and outside the therapy session and commences intervention outwardly. The therapist understanding this family's systemic processing, hierarchy set up, interactions, and communication styles will help develop effective strategies in resolving this issue so that family can move on. The treatment would enhance the communication between the family members and help them with better grief processes (Thompson, 2016).

Conclusion

Both structural and strategic therapeutic approaches analyze the abnormal break in the communication pattern among family members, strategies appropriate measures to repair the dysfunctions, thereby reinforcing useful communication patterns for the family members. 

References:

Barker, P. & Chang, J. (2013). Basic Family Therapy (6th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.

Capuzzi, D. & Stauffer, M. (2015). Foundations of Couples, Marriage, and Family Counseling. John Wiley & Sons.

Thompson, R. (2016). Counseling techniques: improving relationships with others, ourselves, our families, and our environments (3rd ed.). Routledge

Nichols, M. P. (2010). Family therapy: Concepts and methods. Boston: Pearson.