Family Therapy as a Critical Approach to Solving Numerous Problems - Essay Example

CRITIQUE OF A THERAPY SESSION BY Presented Critique of a Therapy Session Family therapy is a critical approach in solving numerous problems in a family set up. Families are composed of personalities with different traits and preferences, and this makes it prudent to have an approach that may bring together all members of the family system to solve a particular problem. This would ensure the family fabric is intact and avoid unnecessary family breakups. In family therapy, a family is seen as a complete system and not the sum of the individual members that make the family (Coralles, 2008). Family therapy involves application of both individual and group therapies in approaching diverse therapeutic goals. It is imperative for families not to view a problem as caused and owned by any particular member, but family therapies help in identifying ways in which specific problems result from various family dynamics. This has led to five major theories of family therapy as would be discussed considering the therapy session of Paul & Lisa counseling session. Psychoanalysis described how unresolved family problems from the past may continue to haunt the family in the present (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2004), with many mental illnesses according to Bowen’s school resulting from dysfunctional patterns in the family system (Nelson, 2003). One hypothesis that can be formed from Paul and Lisa Counseling session is that effective communication among the family members had already broken down, and the counselor failed in defining a favorable communication atmosphere where the clients considered themselves as individuals with a common perspective. This is against Minuchin’s family perspective of not viewing any member as an individual, but the person within the family (Minuchin, 1974). In Paul and Lisa’s family, every member was a separate individual, as noted from their tendencies to have diverse and different perspectives with a blame game among the family members. Every individual in such a case has to be considered as “an individual in his social context” (Minuchin 1974, 3). A family is thus a natural association of individuals who take and develop specific structures recognized by the “patterns of interaction” in their lives (Minuchin & Fisherman 1981, 11). Another hypothesis as can be derived from the session is that the therapist overlooked important issues in refusing to include the children in the session, but are brought out as a major cause of the family conflict. Paul comments that mark was “just spoilt and rotten.” Parents had also played a major role in defining a dividing line between the children by preferring some children to others. Julie is described as being the only “mature’ child among Paul’s children. This may have led to libeling of the other children. If one does not see themselves as part of the system, his only options would be either to change or to withdraw (Kerr & Bowen 1988). The counselor in the session failed in sensitizing the clients on proper use of language in the therapy session, this resulted to an unfavorable atmosphere as the session turned to a blame game. Bowen (1978) elaborates that family members in any therapy are encouraged to use the word ‘I’ any time they speak on their problem without taking a defensive angle, without attacking others, and without defending against another family member. The debate in the therapy session largely failed in meeting these criteria. First Paul believes that “my wife is an alcoholic and is the cause of all the problems.” use of such words portrays Paul as being defensive, and shifted the blame to his wife. Paul could have put the statement in this way, “I believe we have a problem as a family, and even my wife has turned to alcohol taking.” Such a statement would meet the criteria explained by Bowen above. Paul continues to state that “am a good provider and I don’t understand why my wife insists on drinking.” Such a statement still puts blame on his wife. As Nicholas (2009, 97) explains goal process helps family members to realize that it was not what other people do but how these people respond on how other people do that further perpetuates the problem. Such statement may further fuel the withdrawal of his wife as Paul further blames her for being the cause of the problem. The above statement could be made in a neutral way,” I believe I do my best to provide for my family, and am disturbed that my wife has turned to drinking.” In addition, Paul says that “my daughter Julie is more responsible and attentive to me than my wife or Sarah who has been spoiled by her mother.” Such statement would further divide the family and create conflict between children. The statement should have been, ”I feel that my wife and Sarah my younger daughter are not taking their responsibilities as they should be, though Julie my eldest daughter seems to be responsible according to me.” Counselor’s intervention was necessary to guide the session as required through open and closed questions to bring out the major elements in the conflict. In this session, the counselor was not equipped with enough information to facilitate an informed advice to the family; there was no enough clarification on the problems facing the family. More information was required particularly on how the wife started drinking, the view of their children in all the conflict, and why they acted in the particular ways, how the children relate to one another, and whether parents had tried to counsel their children together before the problems started. Payne (1997) in psychodynamic theory illustrates that earlier childhood activities are critical in formulating an individual’s emotions, and are indicative of problems in the lives of these individuals in their entire life. The above social work theory according to Payne is able to offer an insight into early attachment relationships and the development of the person, which may include any past abuse, or trauma particularly in children. Children would therefore be an integral part of this therapy, and how they relate with their parents. Offering the above information would also indicate the past history of the family, which is essential in solving their problems. In addition, Young et al., (2003) further elaborates that narrative family therapy is used to construct meanings as a central theme of a therapy. This theory highlights the influence of language on social context in developing detailed understanding of the problem. The above questions will thus formulate a better understanding of the problem at hand. In moving the family closer to the action state, there are several steps that have to be taken to ensure a successful therapy. Paul’s family seems to have a problem shared by each family member. There would therefore be a need to apply the Conjoint Family Therapy (CFT) (Satir, 1981) explains CFT as a therapy that treats the entire family simultaneously. In other words, for the therapy session to begin, the counselor was required to ensure all members of the family were present. All the family members have to make an account of their views, and listen to one another closely. According to White & Epson (1999), problems presented in a therapy are as a result of systematic narratives in which they give an account of their experiences either lived or as experienced by others. This would avoid blaming the underlying dysfunction in any family as being responsible for their behaviors. Such a narrative when told in a therapeutic conversation, it simplifies the attempt to get in touch with the memories and understanding of events shaping the life of these individuals. Bowen (1978) in his intergenerational family therapy elaborates that tensions in a family unit can only be resolved better by the presence of a third person, neutral to the family, who avoids emotional participation in the family unit. The tensions in Paul’s family would require such a third neutral person, the therapist, who would be responsible for bringing all the members together. The therapy would therefore require all family members to be present during the therapy session. In order to solve the problem completely, the counselor would have widely relied on Solution focused theory. This theory starts with the final solution, and will require the clients (Paul and family) to establish the systematic steps that would lead them to acquire the solution that they will all conquer with (Payne, 1997). It would require formation of a miracle question in helping Paul’s family to envision the future they intend to obtain. The counselor was obligated to bringing out some particular aspects to make the therapy successful. As the feminist therapy requires, the therapist is tasked to assist each client in the family to full empowerment of an individual by validating, acknowledging, and promoting all forms of resistance to any oppressive practices (Weingarten 2003). This implies that the therapist would advocate for some form of equality in the family, where each family member is heard and allowed to express themselves, without feeling subordinate, and looking down upon such members. Such an approach would require empowering each family member to identify their extrinsic and intrinsic resources. Through discovery these strengths, each family member will have an important role to play in the family, and favoring some children over others would not arise as each member would be trained on their responsibilities (Parker, Almeida & Vecchio, 2008). In addition, Payne (2000) explains that through the deconstruction process, each family member would gain a wider perspective of their experiences. This would be better achieved through narrative therapy, where members would be encouraged to open up to one another and share their experiences. The therapy was required to include Paul’s children to achieve this. The counselor was obligated to making every family member comfortable, portraying attentiveness to concerns of each other, noting expressions used during sessions, being empathetic, and understanding one another have to be practiced to realize a fruitful family therapy (Wetchler, 2003). Such an approach, which allows a member to talk and be listened to usually initiates a tendency where family members listen to one another and establish a bond within themselves and with the therapists. Sitting arrangement was important in ensuring establishment of these bonds. Such qualities would prepare them to accept any future challenges in their way (Nicholas 2009). Minuchin & Fishman (1981) further explains that family’s seating arrangements during any therapy session, or at home may play a major role in determining the success of such therapy. For example, Minuchin & Fishman elaborate that non spoken behaviors in sitting arrangements portray the internal alliances of the family members. The counselor’s welcoming was not adequate as it would have played in diffusing the tense atmosphere before the session. O’Hagan (1986) in his book Social Intervention in Social Work outlined various ways in which social crises intervention could be achieved, and opening up a tense atmosphere to enhanced dialogue among the involved parties. O’Hagan (152) explains several obstacles that may be encountered in a crisis, and how the therapist can go about handling the issue. For example, O’Hagan explains that people and families surrounding a family in crises are sometimes obstacles in solving such crises. The best technique in such a case according to O’Hagan would be to ask such people accompanying a family member in crises to leave and talk directly to the main protagonists only. This has to be carried even though the protagonists are accompanied by close friends or family members. The success of such an intervention technique would be measured in future by how best the protagonists in the crises are able to indulge directly in a problem without involving external parties. In addition, O’Hagan (153) explains the techniques that the counselor could have used to solve a crisis involving unmanageable, aggressive, and defiant children such as Mark, who do not want to speak, and are having serious problems with their parents. After failing to make such a child to talk, O’Hagan explains that the best approach would be to pretend to ignore the child and concentrate on their parents. The therapist should then speak in a manner that would make the child aggrieved. For example, if the lad is 14 years old, the best approach would be to explain that they are just about 10 years old and according to your experience, such behavior is common with 10 year old children. This according to O’Hagan would aggrieve the child to talk after being grossly insulated by demeaning him or her. In addition, if a client expresses anger, hostility, or resentment without any violence, the best technique would to let them continue without resisting, or defending oneself. Such feelings would at last burn out, leaving such a client with guilt and ready to open up, since the therapist would have taken all the insults from clients. Such a client would be more open to talk in future, and their aggression may subsidize. Different family therapies may be applied in different situations depending on specific situation and in most cases; a therapist will require to incorporate several therapies at the same time to solve a problem. Therapists have to be neutral arbitrators in such cases without taking any side, but have to offer each client ample time to be heard and express themselves. Usually, such opening up brings out more problems within the family set up particularly, when using the narrative therapy. Generally, solving a problem in any family using the above therapies, a therapist has to involve each and every member of the family for such a therapy to bear fruits and for mitigating similar problems in future. References List Almeida R.V. Parker, L., & Vecchio. K.D.D., 2008. Transformative family Therapy: Just Families in a just Society, MA: Pearson. Bowen, M., 1978. Family Therapy in Clinical Practice, NY and London, Jason Aronson. Corrales R.G., 2008. Major Theories of Family Therapy. Co-Director of the Family Institute of Kansas City, MO. http://www.goldentriadfilms.com/films/theory.htm [Accessed 19th Sept. 2012]. Goldenber, H. & Goldenberg, I., 2004. Family Therapy: An Overview, CA: Thompson Kerr, M., and Bowen, M., 1988. Family Evaluation: An Approach Based on Bowen Theory, NY, Norton. Minuchin, S., & Fishman, H.C., 1981. Family Therapy Techniques. MA: Harvard University Press. Minuchin, S., 1974. Families & Family Therapy, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press Nelson, T.S., 2003. Transgenerational Family Therapies In L.L Hecker & J.L. Wetchler (Eds), An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy, NY: Haworth Clinical Press. Nicholas, M., 2009. The Essentials of family Therapy, MA: Person Education. O’Hagan, K., 1986. Crisis Intervention in Social Services, Basingstoke, Macmillan Payne, M 2005, Modern social work theory, 3rd. eds. Palgrave Macmillan. Satir, V. 1981, Conjoint Family Therapy, 3rd eds, Science and Behavior Books, Palto Alto, California Weingarten, k., Repairing the World; An Adolescent and her Parents. In Silverstein L. and Goodrich, T., eds Feminists Family Therapy: Empowerment in Social Context. DC: American psychological Association. White M. & Epston, D., 1990. Narrative Means to Therapeutic Eds. NY: Norton Young J, Stuart J, Rubenstein R, Boyle A, Schotten H, McCormick F, Jorgensen A, Halloran K, Pearce J. (2003) "Revisiting Family of Origin in the Training of Family Therapists". Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy. Vol 24, no 3. (P132-140) Read More