Transgenerational model of family therapy

Psychodynamic and Transgenerational Models of Family Therapy
As you read the chapters on Psychodynamic and Transgenerational Theories, think about the important role that theory plays in our work with clients. Theories are the foundation upon which we build our work with clients. Theories act as a compass guiding us from one working stage of development with our clients to the next. They provide techniques and tools that help to shape our therapeutic interventions. Therefore, it is extremely important that you understand the intricacies of each theoretical framework as this will ultimately shape your own orientation.

Our lectures this week will cover Psychodynamic and Transgenerational Models of Family Therapy. You will read the chapters of the text that cover these theories, as well as participate in activities that will help you further deliberate on these theories. One “take away” concept for this week should be that psychodynamic models emphasize insight, motivation, unconscious conflict, and early caregiver attachments, while Transgenerational Models focus on the way in which current family patterns of behavior are involved in unresolved family issues.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this week, you will:

· Recognize the Psychodynamic Model of Family Therapy

· Recognize the Transgenerational Model of Family Therapy

· Apply Psychodynamic and Transgenerational Models of Family Therapy

Readings
Please read the following for this week as well as All Week 4 Online Course Materials:

· Goldenberg, H., & Goldenberg, I. (2013): Chapters 7 and 8

Week 4: Lecture

Family Therapy Theories
Family Therapy Theories, like all theories, provide a guide for our work with clients, but the importance of family therapy theories, specifically, is that they provide the framework for working with the entire family unit. Counselors-in-training should think about their use of family therapy theories as a navigation tool that provides direction for clear and concise work with families.

There is a growing trend within the field of family therapy to borrow concepts and techniques from different theoretical orientations. An eclectic family therapist accomplishes this by calling upon her or his experiences. Integration, however requires a combination of theories and treatment processes with the ultimate goal of implementing unified interventions.

It is important for counselors-in-training to understand what makes for a sound theory. A sound theory must be comprehensive, parsimonious, verifiable, precise, empirically valid, and stimulating. Our quest for sound theory development would not be complete however, without first taking a look into the history that led us here, present day.

Week 4: Lecture

Historical Roots
There are many pioneers, such as Freud, Adler, and Ackerman who played a role in turning the focus of counseling to the family as a unit of individuals whose patterns of behavior and interactions impact each individual within the unit. It is important to take a look at these historical roots, which have remained relevant to our practice of family therapy, even today.

Early research by Freud serves as one of the many historical roots of family therapy, because he recognized that the family provides the early environment in which anxieties are developed. Adler’s perspective on sibling rivalry, family constellation, birth order, and style of life are also rooted in a growing awareness of the role that family experience plays in an individual’s adult behavior.

Notice that Ackerman believes the role of the family therapist is to “stir up” family interaction for the purpose of experiencing a meaningful exchange and ultimately addressing unresolved conflict.

In your readings this week, pay attention to the significance of Object Relations Theory as it relates to issues of attachment and loss. Notice that the focus of Object Relations Family Therapy with Scharff & Scharff is on helping family members become more aware of their pattern of internalizing objects from the past; which continues to impact their current relationships. The ultimate goal for family members here is to be able to support each others' need for attachment, individuation, and personal growth.

Framo believed that conflict derived from an individual’s family of origin is projected onto current family members. The major goal of family of origin sessions were to therefore, identify the issues from the family of origin that might be projected onto current family members for the purpose of ultimately gaining a corrective experience with them.

Kohut developed the idea of self-psychology which emphasizes the relationship between the self and outside objects. Kohut believed that early relationships, especially with the caretaker mother, play a significant role in forming the child’s later identity, which also affects an individual’s ability to develop and maintain relationships.

In summary, intersubjectivity and relational psychoanalysis both emphasize the impact of actual relationships on the development of personality. However, intersubjectivists rely on techniques such as mirroring and idealization, while relational psychoanalysts believe that these techniques actually limit access to feelings and thoughts. In addition, attachment theory considers the role that early caregiver interactions play on an individual’s ability to relate to others. Attachment styles range from secure, anxious, and avoidant, based on the individual’s early attachment experience.

The historical roots described here gave life to other family therapy models. We will begin to explore them next.

Week 4: Lecture

Family Systems and Contextual Therapy
The Transgenerational Model of Family Therapy supports that current family behavior is the result of unresolved issues within the family of origin. According to Bowen, the core issue is the attempt to balance family togetherness and individual autonomy. Bowen’s theoretical contributions have bridged a gap between the psychodynamic and systems approaches.

Bowen offered eight forces that shape family functioning to consist of differentiation of self, triangles, the nuclear family emotional system, the family projection process, emotional cutoff, multigenerational transmission process, sibling position, and societal regression. The goal of family therapy is to reduce anxiety and resolve symptoms in order to maximize each person’s self-differentiation within the family. Family therapists are urged to avoid becoming triangled into the family’s interactions. Specifically, Bowen’s work encourages counselors’ differentiation from their family of origin to assist them with remaining objective in their work with families.

When we think of a genogram, we have grown accustomed to using it as a picture which captures family roots, but the readings suggests that the genogram can also be used to identify certain emotional patterns in each partner’s family, which could prove to be useful when working with a couple in family therapy.

In your readings, notice that contextual therapists believe that the patterns of relating within a family that are passed on from one generation to the next are key elements for understanding family functioning. According to Ivna Boszormenyi-Nagythe developer of Contextual family therapy, the purpose of therapy should be to rebuild trustworthy behavior, with the ultimate goal of helping family members rebalance emotional ledgers with each other in order to develop fairness and accountability in the way they interact with each other.

Week 4: Activities

Readings
Please read the following for this week as well as All Week 4 Online Course Materials:

· Goldenberg, H., & Goldenberg, I. (2013): Chapters 7 and 8

· PowerPoint Handout: Chapter 7 & 8 pdf

· Theory Case Study

Pseudonym: Camilla

Identifying Information Camilla was a 15 year old Hispanic female and a sophomore in high school. Her parents were divorced and she lived with her father and step mother while her younger sister lived with her mother.

Presenting Problem(s)

Therapy was sought for Camilla by her stepmother because Camilla was sexually promiscuous, experimenting with drugs and alcohol, demanding and unappreciative of the needs of others. Camilla described relationships as unfulfilling and confusing. Acts of kindness or attempts to provide structure for her by her stepmother and first serious boyfriend were thwarted. Because of confusion about her own identity she was prone to sexual experimentation, including homosexual relationships and sexual encounters with multiple partners. While Camilla hoped these choices would gain attention from her biological parents her behavior was generally ignored by them while her stepmother attempted to redirect her towards positive behaviors.

Most Relevant Developmental History Camilla’s parents married because of an unplanned pregnancy which resulted in her birth. Marital conflict and dissatisfaction were prominent during the first 8 years of Camilla’s life. Her primary caretaker was her mother’s sister, a lesbian who often romanced her female partner in front of Camilla. Both Camilla’s parents used cocaine regularly and drank on a daily basis and Camilla was often the caretaker for her younger sister. Camilla’s mother was permissive and overcompensated for the lack of affection provided by giving her an excessive amount of toys, food and unsupervised activities. Her father was generally absent indicating that he didn’t want to be in the household because of conflict. He worked long hours during the day and would return home late each evening drunk and ultimately left his family to pursue another relationship. After the family disintegrated Camilla’s mother portrayed her step mother as a “villain” who created the demise of the family and refused to see Camilla for two years when she chose to live with her father. Both of her parents treated her younger sister, Felicity, the product of another accidental pregnancy, as “special.”

Assignments

· Week 4: Object relations perspective

Theory Case Study

In the above listed case study, from an object relations perspective, how did Camilla’s biological parents’ behavior likely affect her? Remember to cite the readings in your posts and include a reference list. Minimum 3 paragraphs.

· Week 4: Family functioning

Which of the eight forces do you believe most shape family functioning? Why do you believe that particular force most shapes family functioning? Which of the eight forces do you believe least shapes family functioning? Why do you believe that particular force least shapes family functioning? Remember to cite the readings in your posts and include a reference list. Minimum 3 paragraphs.

· Week 4: Family therapists

· According to Bowen, family therapists need to get in touch with their own internalized family, so that unfinished business does not impair their work with families. How would you handle a situation where you believe your unfinished business was negatively affecting your work with a family? What signs would tell you that your unfinished business was affecting your work with a family? What additional resources would you use to help you deal with this unfinished business? Remember to cite the readings in your posts and include a reference list. Minimum 3 paragraphs.

Assignments
Please complete the following assignments:

· Week 4: Reflection Paper

If you were asked to develop your own theoretical approach for working with families, what would it look like?

· What techniques would you integrate from the psychodynamic and transgenrational models?

· Does your theory meet the criteria for a sound theory?

· With which families do you believe your theory would work the most effectively?

· With which families do you believe your theory may not be as effective?

Submit a 2-3 page reflection paper addressing the questions above. Use APA format and remember to cite your work.

You will need to include a cover page APA style, 2-3 page paper APA style, and Reference page APA style.

You will not need an abstract page for any paper for this course, do not include the abstract page.