RESEARCH PAPER: STRUCTURAL FAMILY THERAPY
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Research Paper: Structural Family Therapy
Sara A. Martin
Liberty University
COUC 601
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Abstract
Salvador Minuchin developed the family therapy method of Structural Family Therapy (SFT).
This model consists of the primary concept that the issues faced by the individual are a part of a
larger family pattern and that depending on the level of interaction with more family members in
the therapy process, a better outcome of SFT can be achieved. SFT strives to bring the family
system into a new place of understanding together. By exploring the key aspects of SFT, a better
grasp of its applicability is developed. Other topics explored include the expectation of a faith
integration with SFT and analysis of the application of the SYMBIS assessment tool.
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PART I
Introduction
A family consists of several individuals related by blood or bond who interact with
different levels of intensity and consistency surrounding any given individual’s life span
(Goldenberg, 2016). This can refer to many generations or a person’s individual household.
Family can be a source of great support and foundational guidance. On the other side of things, a
family can also be the very people who provided the first or continual trauma in an individual’s
life. When the family interacts, even amicably, there are often at least a few stressors in
existence, which may have developed over years of continuous interactions with one another. It
is the job of a family therapist to identify and support the family in learning to recognize and
possibly resolve these sources of conflict.
To identify these sources of conflict, family therapy may use a variety of theories and
techniques to identify an effective treatment method. When first looking to participate in family
therapy, a new client should observe the difficulties they are facing, willingness to participate of
each of the members, as well as the specific treatment goals they wish to achieve to find the best
fit for their individual needs. One of the many theories available is that of Structural Family
Therapy (SFT) which Goldenberg & Goldenberg (2013) identifies a theory where the therapist
gives detailed observations and actively helps the family identify new ways of dealing with their
problems within the context of the family system.
Leading Figures
Known in the field of family therapy as the father of the SFT movement is Salvador
Minuchin (Colapinto, 2019; Vetere, 2001). Born in Argentina on October 13th, 1921, Minuchin
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spent time living and working in Israel before eventually coming to New York City in 1950 to
study child psychiatry and later at the William Alanson White Institution of Psychoanalysis.
Minuchin went on to become a child psychiatrist, pediatrician, running a correctional facility for
troubled boys, and developing his theory of SFT in the 1960s (West & Bubenzar, 1993).
Minuchin worked on further developing SFT the remainder of his life, until his death from heart
failure in Florida in 2017 at the age of 96.
Although Minuchin is considered the founder of SFT, many others were involved in the
development of this family therapy theory, several of which collaborated alongside Minuchin,
including Braulio Montalvo, Jay Haley, Bernice Rosman, Harry Aponte, Carter Umbarger,
Marianne Walters, Charles Fishman, Cloe Madanes, and Stephen Greenstein (Nichols & Davis,
2017). Those involved in the original development of SFT and those who continue to develop it
further today strive to meet the needs of the ever changing cultural and ethical standards of care
as the theory evolves (Psychology, 2023).
Development of the Theory/Historical Events
Minuchin developed the theory of SFT after studying psychoanalysis and out of a desire
to better define how “characteristic features are an emphasis on interactional context as the
organizer of individual behaviors, the central role assigned to the family as the protagonist of
therapy, and the reliance on making change happen in the therapy room (Colapinto, 2019).” This
need for developing a new way to engage in the family therapy process came from Minuchin and
his college’s desire to incorporate the family context rather than simply focus on the single
individual. By interacting with the larger family system and how individuals within it relate to
others in the family, they theorized that the family could rebuild and restructure the relationships
within itself.
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Basic Assumptions and Key Philosophy
Goldenberg and Goldenberg (2013) indicated that structural family therapy is defined as
a theory that has a "preference for contextual rather than an individual focus on problems and
solutions. Its uniqueness, however, results from its use of spatial and organizational metaphors,
both in describing problems and identifying solutions, and its insistence on active therapist
direction." The clinician hopes to make progress by actively engaging in the client’s process of
finding solutions by aiding them to a better understanding their individual involvement in the
greater family system and the patterns it holds.
Key Concepts
Minuchin believed in building a healthy hierarchical family system, consisting of unique
subsystems (such as parents vs. children) each with distinctive limits and boundaries (Hidalgo, et
al., 2019). If the family organization is facing difficulties, SFT pinpoints family structural
imbalance, dysfunctional hierarchy in the family system, and maladaptive reaction to changing
demands as key.
Techniques
SFT contains many valuable techniques, some of those that are most notable are that of
joining, this is when a therapist first conferences with the family setting the tone and foundation
for treatment. Mapping is another technique of SFT which describes the therapist’s effort to
understand the rules, structures, and patterns of the unique family system of the client
(Goldenberg et al., 2016; Psychology Today, 2022). Unbalancing refers to when the therapist
attempts to gently challenge the family members regarding their perception of the family. Also
memorable is the concept of reframing which refers to a method the therapist uses to redistribute
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individual family member’s difficulties by indicating their connection to the larger family
system’s dynamics.
Similarities and Dissimilarities
Due to Minuchin first studying underneath the foundation of psychoanalysis, there are
many parallels visible between these two theories. Both theories recognize the impact of a
person’s family system upon the individual members. They also both seek to identify the context
for which a person is experiencing difficulties, but while the psychoanalyst looks for these
answers in the unconscious views of self and family, the SFT would in turn search the family
system for patterns and connections, even bringing the surrounding family members into the
therapy process (Perkel, 2019). Because of this, one of the most visible differences between
theories like psychoanalysis and SFT is the focus on what individuals are present for treatment.
SFT is identified by its insistence that the family surrounding the individual be involved. The
client’s interaction with the entire family system is observed, seeking to acquire the viewpoint of
everyone involved. Other similarities to other family theories include the use of tools such as the
Genogram program which aids the counselor in gaining a better picture of the whole of the
family system (McGoldrick et al., 2020). Like the interaction found in SFT, this tool aids the
therapist in visualizing important family information and familial patterns existing in the current
or past structure to aid the client in illuminating these sometimes-damaging repetitions.
New Knowledge Acquired
In utilizing provided material for this class as well as by further researching SFT, I
learned about how Minuchin was focused on unique cultural, and crisis issues his clients were
facing. Much of the work surrounding SFT is in relation to criminal and troubled adolescent
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populations. The use of SFT in working with abnormal populations in the mental health field and
correctional system is especially relevant to me in my career in nursing at a mental health facility
for those who have committed major crimes. Because of this focus I was able to very closely
connect the strategies of SFT with my own patient care and that which is used by clinicians at
my workplace. This connection made this assignment very relevant not only to furthering my
education but also to my current career. Also new knowledge I acquired included how the focus
of Minuchin on understanding multiple cultures. This was something that also stood out to me
when conducting this assignment as I work with people from all over the world due to foreign
nursing programs and live and work within an impoverished primarily African American
community in my region. This focus made SFT especially relevant for me.
PART II
My Personal Family Counseling Approach
I would like to utilize a variety of counseling approaches in my own practice, but I found
that the techniques in SFT blend exceptionally well with my own personal experience. Due to
my working with patients in the criminal justice system and who are in major legal and mental
health crisis, SFT offers a way to identify and possibly aid in the repair of the broken support
systems found surrounding these clients.
Like the development of SFT, the technique of Hope Focused counseling also has some
roots in psychotherapy (Ripley & Worthington, 2014). Jennifer S. Ripley and Everett L.
Worthington, Jr.’s theory of Hope Focused couple’s counseling offered techniques which had
some similarities to those of SFT such as the technique of unbalancing which is reminiscent of
the Forgiving and Reconciling Through Experiencing Empathy (FREE) model’s emotional
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softening strategy (Navarre, 2009; Ripley & Worthington, 2014). Both of these theories offer
skills for supporting those looking for answers in family and marital counseling. I would like to
utilize both strategies in my own practice in the future and have especially appreciated the faith
integration found in Ripley and Everett’s text.
Integration of Faith
My current career is in a state maximum security mental health facility, and I hope to
move from nursing into psychology with the completion of my graduate work. I am a Christan
and though I work in this client population that is not built upon Christian faith perspective, I still
intend to integrate my faith into my counseling practice in the years to come by the way I interact
with my clients. The American Association of Christian Counselors code of ethics (AACC Code
of Ethics, n.d.). specifies that assuming and imposing my own religious beliefs upon my clients
is unethical. This could result in the potential for legal repercussions as well as possibly harming
the patient or damaging the therapeutic alliance. Though this does not allow me to introduce my
faith directly, I do and intend to continue as I have for many years, praying for my clients on my
own before meeting with them. In scripture John 13:35 (NIV, 2023) reminds us “they will know
we are Christians by our love.” In my many years at this facility I have experienced numerous
times when client’s and coworkers have reached out to ask to be prayed for or invited me to
participate in bible studies/church services on the units. Though I have never expressly stated my
faith to anyone I work with, I strongly believe that faith is evident in the way one interacts with
others and often something believers can recognize in one another.
PART III
Marriage Mindset
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In the SYMBIS assessment marriage mindset section, both me and my partner were
given individual results as well as how they mesh with one another. My mindset was determined
to be Resolute while his is Romantic. This indicates that I am very motivated, and he is more of
an idealist. Interestingly SYMBIS indicated that we are not very “like minded” and that this
could be a great challenge for us. Recommendation was that we are very intentional in our
communication and willingness to compromise to overcome these differences. I found these
results to be very accurate to both the positive and negative sides of our unique mindsets and the
advice very helpful in understanding our relationship better. I never think of us as being terribly
different as we rarely if ever disagree, but upon further reflection I noted how we often have very
dissimilar ways of processing and understanding the world which does become evident when we
must complete a task together.
Five Issues in Real Relationships
When assessing the five important issues in a marriage relationship I found several
significant insights. First is Love. This was not surprisingly one of our areas, we found many
differences. With Completely different words for our 5 ways we “define love,” I found his key
word choices to be more related to desiring someone to be a caretaker while mine were more
indicating a desire for a person to lean on for support. Upon further reflection, this is very telling
of our distinctly traditional gender roles within our relationship as well as in our own unique
ways we show love. Interestingly our view on sexual intimacy within the relationship was almost
identical, which surprised me as this is something we have had many disagreeing conversations
about over the years we have known one another. I am curious if our more in-depth
communication on this area is related to the more similar answers and may be a good indication
that these dialogues should be explored on other topics where we were dissimilar. Second is
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Attitude. My partner was indicated as a deliberating spouse while I was categorized as affirming.
This section indicated that he can sometimes struggle with resilience which can affect his
attitude. I found this important to note as I see this sometimes and it often is hard for me to fully
understand. Also, this section described how each partner might perceive the other under stress. I
found this to be a very accurate description and such a great thing for a couple to get out in the
open and in conversation so that miscommunications can be reduced whenever possible. Third is
Communication. This section looked more into our unique marriage mindsets and addressed the
topic of communication. I found the ways each partner would like the other to communicate very
helpful as well as the honest personal assessment given of the skills, we would each like to
improve. These gave great foundation for further discussion to help improve communication
between both parties. Fourth is Gender differences. The note given by SYMBIS in this section to
each participant was detailed and worded to help each person best understand the other. I found
this very helpful and was encouraged that several of our top needs were also shared. The fifth
and final topic is Conflict. This section also broke down our different marriage mindsets to
discuss this hot button topic. This section was very detailed, and I was surprised we both
indicated the same top hot button topics, likely due to these being things we have had differences
of opinion on previously.
Walking Together with God
The section on spirituality brought up ways we both connect in our relationship with
God. Due to schedules that run opposite with one another, sometimes we do not talk much,
especially about our spirituality. Based on the information from the SYMBIS assessment I found
out we are even more similar than I thought in this area and intend to attend church regularly
(hopefully together depending on schedules), pray together and for one another, and be more
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intentional about discussion spiritual matters with one another. Hopefully by committing to
these parts of our spiritual life together we can better ensure that our marriage is God-honoring.
Theory and Spiritual Integration
I expect the SYMBIS Assessment to be an effective tool for me in that, though I may not
be able to use it often if I continue my career where I work currently due to the nature of that
work, I can still utilize considerations I have learned when in communication with those going
through marriage/relationship difficulties. This assessment tool integrates well into my interest in
SFT as the core relates to determining a healthy relationship in each unique subsystem, which is
often made up of marriages in many levels. The SYMBIS tool also smoothly integrates with my
faith in that it identifies and dives into the faith of those in the relationship to better aid them in
being unified in their faith journey.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the topics of SFT and its many components, faith integration, and the
SYMBIS assessment tool all have potential for being useful parts of my therapy practice in years
to come. By better understanding SFT, I hope to utilize it in the years to come. While my career
location is not faither based, my Christian perspective can be built into everything I do.
Colossians 3:23 (NIV, 2023) reminds us in “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as
working for the Lord, not for human masters.” This is my life verse since childhood and
motivates me to continue to do serve the Lord in everything I do, including integrating it into my
chosen counseling strategies to better support others around me.
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