Family Therapy and Therapists - Essay Example

Presentation of the Issue The family therapist as a human service practitioner should seek to provide interventions that facilitate relationship issues and aid in the understanding and therapy for mental and emotional disorders within the family context (D’ Rozario, 2000; Scarzoni, 1995). However, family therapy theories differ as to these interventions should take (Franklin & Jordan, 2001). The family therapist values and promotes positive, stable, long-term, emotionally beneficial relationships that are considered to be represented by the family unit (Scarzoni, 1995). The family as a social group is valued as a social unit that provides a supportive network for its members. The family therapist acknowledges that there is a diversity of family forms, such as nuclear, extended, cohabitation and same-sex, to name a few. It is also acknowledged that the different forms a family each have inherent strengths and weaknesses. Hence, the family therapist emphasises interventions that facilitate individuals to form social couples and households, or family groups. It is the aim of the family therapist to assist with relational development within the couple or household, and to support the learning of new ways to problem-solve. As a human service worker professional, the family therapist does not discriminate on grounds of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and religion or health status. To enable effective and efficient intervention, the family therapist needs to adhere to a theory that reflects their personal therapeutic philosophy. Presentation of the Writers Proposal The social construction framework is useful to human service workers in the fields of family therapy and psychotherapy in that it allows practitioners to investigate and empower client’s creation of meaningful understandings of themselves and the wider world (Swann, 1999). The framework focuses on the key influences of sociocultural forces and the environmental context of human understanding, learning and accumulation of knowledge. Within family therapy this theory provides the therapist with a powerful ability to draw family members away from blaming each other for their behaviors, and placing these behaviors within a larger sociocultural context. For example, the Western values of independence, competition and profit contributing to the family to place pressure on their son to find gainful employment and to do better in life than what they have. In turn, the son has felt misunderstood, isolated and unable to achieve due to constant “failures” and has chosen to drop out of society. Now living in a shelter, the son is attempting to find work, but constantly faces rejection, which is further inhibiting his self-esteem. His parents feel they are unable to help him, feel guilty for his poor upbringing and don’t have anyone to talk to. The framework is useful for the family therapist in this instance in that the family can be encouraged to exhibit agency within the therapeutic process, such as role playing each other as well as perceived ideals, and with their increased agency and autonomy be less dependant on the therapist to provide meaning for their experiences. Justification for the Proposal Family therapy is grounded in the theories of social and developmental psychology. The actual practice of family therapy did not occur until the mid 1950’s (Swann, 1999). The dominant psychological paradigms at this time were psychoanalysis and the medical model used within psychiatry. However, it had become increasingly evident that emotional and mental disorders extended further than the individual patients themselves, and that relationships within their significant social units also impacted on the health and well-being of a person. Today, the family therapist considers that therapy involving the family as a whole is more effective, and also provides quicker results, rather than individual treatment of family members (Scarzoni, 1995). In the early years of family therapy issues of social justice were not clearly acknowledged and taken into account. Social justice is defined as each human being having the right to self-determination and to experience the same freedoms (Swann, 1999). Social injustice tends to be hidden and complex as it is formed within social structures, that is, the laws, customs, social policies and social practices that make a society what it is. Hence, social justice is the recognition of the dignity, status, power and well-being of each and every person who lives within a society. Moreover, social justice extends beyond each individual to the overarching community in which the individual lives, so that all become responsible to uphold the values of social justice. During the 1970s and onwards, family therapists began to take a different approach to psychotherapy, as neo-Freudians, humanists, social and cognitive theories began to broaden the psychoanalytic viewpoint (Swann, 1999). The new approaches that arose incorporated issues of social justice that became more salient in the USA, Europe and Australia during the sociopolitical changes of the 1960s, and with the critical analysis of past theories by feminist writers. This shift has emphasised social construction, and the concept that interaction with the social and physical environment results in each individual “creating” their own reality. Reason 1 The psychotherapist benefits also from the use of the social construction framework in those theories such as Bandura’s self-efficacy model complement the concept of reality being constructed through human activity (Franklin & Jordan, 2001). Using social modeling of Bandura allows the personal counselor to empower their client by making clear that meanings of self, and the world, are not ultimate truths, but mutually constructed ideas about life and the place of humans within it. Being able to empower the client is a boon for the psychotherapist whose primary goal is to aid a client through emotional, relational or mental distress toward a state of independence and agency, which can be achieved when a person realizes that their knowledge is created through interactions with others and the physical environment. Reason 2 The framework provides the opportunity for family therapists to engage more fully with their clients as they are aware that there is no absolute truth, and that there are numerous ways of presenting an idea or solution to a problem (Hart, 1995). This enables therapists and clients to consider other view-points without the threat of diminishing their own viewpoint, as they are aware that all meaning is relative. Therapists and clients are able to draw on each others meaning systems to develop mutually helpful relationships, and are able to broaden their understanding of historical and cultural variables that may play a role in the hindering of mutually empowering relationships. The interactional approach of the social construction framework contributes to more effective communication between family therapists and clients, and clients as a family among themselves and their social community; as cooperatively all parties are able to support the extension of each others understandings of new knowledge and behaviors. Reason 3 Awareness of the contributions that a social construction approach can make to practices as a family therapist will definitely have a positive effect. Better engagement with relational and emotional issues will contribute to the support and empowerment of others, with regard to both the therapist and the client (Swann, 1999). Especially, clients will be better able to understand how social construction of relationships (e.g., such as the family) ties in with considerations of social justice and issues of societal power and the importance of these issues to family therapy. It is important for the family therapist to critique their own discipline and style of therapy, particularly in regard to oppression, discrimination and other social injustices. When motivated to reflect on their understandings of their studies of family therapy, they can become aware that the meanings that they attribute to an issue such as social injustice is mutually developed through their interactions with social others and their physical environment. It is empowering to acknowledge that their values, assumptions and practices as a family therapist can positively contribute to the empowerment of others, and perhaps aid families to make a change from a current unjust status quos. Summary and Refutation of Opposing Views An opposing theory is that of de Shazer (1986), which is also utilised within contemporary family therapy, but takes a more solution-focused approach (Hart, 1995). The theory of de Shazer is a family therapy modes that takes a deficit perspective in that he considers a problem to reside within the family and that it is this that needs to be ‘fixed’. De Shazer does not return to discussion of a problem once it has been stated, instead guiding therapy to focus on talks centred on solutions. In this regard de Shazer considers it unimportant to return to a problem once it has been stated. In contrast, social construction focuses on identifying perceived problems and highlighting their sociopolitical nature, as well as emphasizing their social construction. Whilst de Shazer orients towards pragmatics and behaviour, social construction aligns therapy with narratives, issues of power and meaning making. Importantly, these differences in approach to problems highlight the differences in perspectives of social justice (D’ Rozario, 2000). To this end, de Shazer ignores issues of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability as contributing to a solution. It has been pointed out that de Shazer’s theory does not account for the reality of issues of power that exist within the lives of family members. Especially, as from a social construction framework, the way in which a person expresses a problem is considered to be influenced by their power relationships with others. For example, a female partner who feels she does not have the right to express her opposing opinion to her partner may not express her concerns for fear of retribution. As such, her issues within the home may remain hidden from the therapist, and so not be included in the solution-based therapy of de-Shazer. Social construction contends that for the therapist and clients not to debate problems is still taking a position on them, indirectly condoning negative behaviours, and allowing social injustices to continue (Swann, 1999). Importantly, social construction connects the narrative stories of family members with issues of power, and of facilitating the clients’ understanding of power discourses. As such, client’s become aware of the mutual contribution they have to each other’s meaning making, and the influences of wider social structures. This empowers client’s to take a more objective view of their issues, especially as they explore ways to re-author their narrative, such as focusing on situations of unique outcomes. Conclusion that Exhorts an Audience to Act In conclusion, the social construction framework has implications on how both the family therapist and the clients can develop relationships within their own families as well as with social others. As well, the proposed framework shows benefits family therapy as disciplines, as well as the people they support and assist, as it encourages therapists to take a critical interest in the essential nature of the human meaning making process. Especially, as the framework approach moves away from a decontextualized self using a variety of theories there is the potential for cross-fertilization of ideas and theories among sub-modalities. It is recommended that family therapy research extend into the use of such cross-fertilizations. It is also recommended that family therapy research further explore the challenges facing family therapists in the adoption of a more critical approach to issues of social justice, at the undergraduate level as well as the professional level, and that a social construction framework can achieve this. Annotated Bibliography D’ Rozario, B. A. (2000). Social justice and quality of life. Retrieved January 3rd, 2007 from: http://webservice.mnl.ust.edu.ph/bioethics/papers/dec6/Social%20Justice%20and%20Quality%20of%20Life%20by%20Dr.%20Benedict%20Alo%20DRozario.pdf This insightful article presents an argument for the critical need for consideration of social injustice for the critical importance of considering social injustice in a rapidly globalizing world. Discourse on the subjects of human life, dignity, respect and equality is growing in popularity amongst not only academics, but the public also. This paper analyses the semantics behind the term “social justice” so as to better understand how the concept ties into quality of life. For the family therapist, this paper comprehensively informs and raises awareness about the connection between social injustices and how people perceive themselves and each other. de Shazer, S. (1986) Keys to Solution in Brief Therapy. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. de Shazer is the developer of the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Model, and has authored three other books on the subject besides this informative text. The present book provides a concise and simple to read introduction to Brief Therapy for the everyday reader as well as the student of the social sciences. The focus is on brief and focused solutions as opposed to problems. Particularly, the final chapter of the book, “Rules of the Thumb” contains essential checkpoints for the therapist. This book is also being used in doctoral level programs for pastoral counselors. It is a unique idea to reduce resources, time, cost and energy for both the health professional and the client. De Shazer considers his model a realistic, reasonable solution that has quick results. This text will be used in a doctoral level program the writer is developing for pastoral counselors. Franklin, C., & Jordan, C. (2001). Current trends and practices in family therapy. In A. Roberts and G. Greene (Eds.) Social Workers Desk Reference. New York: Oxford University Press. This chapter provides a concise summary of the development of family therapy in North America, and highlights issues and concerns of families in the 21st century, taking into account the wide diversity of cultural contexts and the variety of forms that families take in this contemporary age. Further, the chapter introduces a variety of clinical interventions that the family therapist has available, focusing on present trends in the models used by family therapists. One such approach is the social construction model that encourages clients to see themselves as a facet of their socio-cultural and physical environment, and as being a culmination of their interactions with others and their experiences in life. Hart, B. S. W. (1995). Re-authoring the stories we work by: Situating the narrative approach in the presence of the family of therapists. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 16(4), 181-189. This article critically analyzes the narrative approach to family therapy that encompasses a social construction approach. Hart examines the wealth of ideas in family therapy, as well as introducing the theoretical background from which family therapy emerged. He focuses on a comparison of de Shazer’s theory of brief solution focused therapy in contrast to other family therapies which are oriented toward social construction. Hart also covers commonalities across family therapy models. He also identifies the contribution of social construction frameworks and their contribution to better practices amongst family therapists. Scanzoni, J. (1995). Contemporary Families and Relationships - Reinventing Responsibility. New York: McGraw-Hill. This text draws heavily on New Action Theory that focuses not on structural-functionalism of traditional action theory (based on rigid social rules and norms). Instead, Scazoni delineates how an individual’s behavior can be used to construct new and novel ways of approaching life and its challenges and crises. The three primary themes of the book are; gender, diversity and development. These concepts are combined to present a new action theory perspective that empowers and enables adults and children to ‘reinvent’ their family to align with a rapidly changing globalized society. The book includes a history of the family in terms of its structure and social obligations from the 18th century to the present day. And there are separate chapters which focus on contemporary family issues; family abuse; same sex couples, and single parenting. Swann, W. B., Jr. (1999). Resilient Identities: Self, Relationships, and the Construction of Social Reality. New York: Basic. This is an intriguing book that discusses the controversial topic of self exploration and a novel way to approach self-esteem conflicts that are present in all relationships, including those with one’s family. Swann critically analyzes what he considers to be flawed assumptions about current self-esteem programs, and how these feelings of self-worth ties into negative family relationships (among other relationships). His focus is on self-esteem as seen by way of a social construction framework. He draws on his own, and others, empirical research studies to describe how social-cognitive processes impact on an individual’s relationships. Another dominant theme of the text is the interplay between the personal and social self, and the construction of “identity fusion”. Read More