Multigenerational and Family Therapy: Strengths and Shortcomings - Coursework Example

Multigenerational And Family Therapy Strengths and Shortcomings Many families around the world, nomatter how strong and viable, always have certain problems and weaknesses. These weaknesses differ from families as no two families are same and also such problems reflect from the cultural and society background in which they live in. There are many several therapies to help family resolve their problems. However, in this paper we shall only discuss the two most common therapies, which are Strategic family therapy, which is also called problem solving therapy and the second is called the Multigenerational therapy which is the study of emotional structure within an extended family. This type of treatment is a form of psychiatric help that involves all the members of a small or a large family. It is a form of treatment that is usually conducted by a team or a pair of therapist. Introduction Jay Haley was the one who formed the structure of the strategic therapy. This therapy was formed because many families were trapped in dysfunctional patterns and also they held on to solutions that did not work. The idea was to get them to do something different. Strategic therapist brought in creative techniques to solve problem and have the family move to a better life. The idea of the therapy is not as simple as it looks and it is sometime difficult to carry out these ideas. Why? Because life is so complex that they had to invent therapy for each case and hence it became difficult for trainees to follow. A simple way to notice or present strategic therapy is to notice that is opposite of traditional therapies. (Haley and Ricbeport-Haley, 2003) On the other hand, Murray Bowen structured Multigenerational therapy in which, he found out that the prime source of human emotional experience is the extended family unit. There are several theories formed by Murray Bowen in his structure of therapy out of these differential of self is the most important one, others include emotional cut-off, societal regression, triangle, sibling position, family projection process and nuclear family emotional system. As we progress further we shall discuss these theories in detail. (Bowen, 2008; Drummond, 2008) First we shall compare both these therapies and theories and also discuss what they mean by Strategic and Multigenerational therapy. Strategic therapy is also called problem solving therapy because it helps identify the problem within a family and works to resolve the same whereas multigenerational therapy is the study that therapist uses to understand the relationship and medical history of the family. Strategic therapy is where the therapist designs the solution for the problem and also particular approach in addressing those problems. The treatment in strategic therapy involves the study of the environment of the family and not just an individual member. The theory of strategic treatment that the symptoms in a patient are the result of the family members to correct what they consider problem behaviour. In this type of therapy the therapist has to identify the problems and also to set certain targets in achieving the solution for the problems and setting a goal. The therapist has to examine each family member’s response to the solution that he has come up with and also the outcome of such therapy. Strategic Family therapy focuses on solving the problems within the family, which are of present. It is a brief process and usually solution oriented. In this kind of therapy the changes takes only when family members shows positive responses to the therapist solution. Multi generational therapy is an application of rational thinking within an emotional structured family. It focuses on differential self, which means identifying oneself while still belonging to the family. It also focuses on the position of a child, the emotional structure and the societal regression of a family. Therefore, what can be seen by multigenerational therapy is that it tends to achieve or solve the anxiety, to end generation-to-generation transmission problems by resolving the emotional attachments and to increase an individual level of differentiation within the family. Multigenerational therapy helps in better understanding between three generations. (Haley and Ricbeport-Haley, 2003; Bowen, 2008) Lets us now discuss the studies of Bowen and Haley and distinguish between them. Differential of self relates to one‘s ability to separate ones own intellect and emotional from that of the family. Individuals who suffer from low differentiation are more likely to become filled with predominant family emotions. Jay Haley’s strategic therapy discussed that his study was that of optimism and hope rather than explaining problems as pathological and lethal. It was a therapy of change rather than insight without action. Further to his explanation Bowen believed that people who suffered from low differentiation depended on others for approval and acceptance. They either obey the rules of others or they force others to conform themselves. This attitude makes them for vulnerable to stress and they also have difficulties in adjusting to new life changes. However, some who can overcome this and though they need others but depend less on others approval and acceptance can have a well differentiated self. They no only adjust or adapt to the attitude of those around but also they obtain their principles thoughtfully, which helps them decide important matters on family and social issues. Strategic therapy is of change rather than insight without action, promoting solutions and new behaviours over understanding and also the excused about why the problems should exist. The tone of therapy is temperate and respectful, often good-natured. Humour is used frequently. (Messina, 2008) Multigenerational therapy help understand the psychological difference of intellect, emotion and independence of self from others while strategic therapy helps play a role in moving the family towards an appropriate family development. Strategic therapy is of justice and advocacy in which therapist take strong decisions against violence and abuse and advocate for children, families and those living in poverty. Flexibility is a key element of strategic therapy, and various approaches are needed for the mixture of problems and cultural, ethnic and social situation brought to therapy. In multigenerational therapy, a therapist will try to find out the blending within the family while in strategic the therapist will try to perfect a problematic behaviour. In Bowen’s therapy he discusses that that emotional cut-off is a method used by people to reduce the emotional issue between parents, children and other members of the family. They stray away so that they can avoid sensitive issues by moving away from family. However, emotional cut-off does not resolve relationships, which are stressed. On the other hand, strategic therapy is the uniqueness of patients and the therapist has to work within the patient’s own worldview wherever possible. The one similarity between each of them is that it helps change an individual within the family structure. Another factor that multigenerational therapy counts is that of family’s reaction towards the marriage of an individual in a different cultural environment. Bowen’s multigenerational therapy helps in understanding and appreciating the different stages of life; children can learn a lot from their grandparents and often looked after by them and finally wisdom is gained from different generations staying together. A triangle was another theory developed by Bowen. In this he explained that whenever two people have a problem a third member will be brought in to resolve the same. This constituted a triangle where the anxiety is shifted to the third person in the family so as to avoid the stress. (Messina, 2008) Finally we can come to a decision that strategic therapy is not focused on upon abuse, trauma or guilty pastime. In focuses on problems that are present rather than a genogram, in strategic therapy the therapist concentrates on what task to follow. On the other hand, in multigenerational therapy a therapist will feel that it is improper to ignore the problems that happened in the past as they might have a relation to the problems that are faced in the present. Therefore, the fact of problematic past cannot be minimized when established theories and even therapist diagnosis that past problems are also related. For example, suppose a woman faced certain problem in her childhood and now she is having problems adjusting as an adult with her husband so should one assume that the present future is caused because of her childhood problem. One might prefer the current strategic problem theory since the idea focuses on the women problems as well as the husband. In strategic and multigenerational therapy, the therapist only find one thing that causes a major problem and that is the behavioural pattern of the individual and how his or her rigidness in the process of treatment. Other thing for a therapist to consider is that he or she should identify the problem a family is facing as no two family faces the same problem and that they are different type of therapy for each. However, the therapist makes it a point that everyone is allowed to speak their mind and that everyone has to be listened by the other family members. Another difference between strategic and traditional therapies is considered to be controversial which is the cause of change is different as a basic assumption is presumed in the traditional therapy is that, if people understand themselves and also the problems that they are facing they can resolve the issue or entirely change themselves. Therefore, the interpretation is that of insight. Though traditional therapy assumes this approach, strategic therapy however, does not assume that understanding one leads to change. (Compassion Therapy, 2008; Frey, 2001) In conclusion we can say that strategic therapy has become successful as seen by various training programs. This therapy is different from others it is not an awareness therapy and also it is carefully planned and solution oriented and brief. Haley’s theory is based on common sense using the resources in the community to help. Multigenerational therapy focuses on solving a problem over a time period where it helps in understanding the nature and behaviour pattern among each family member and siblings and they also sometime face the problem called the controlling factor between the parent and child also as generation is changing so is the basic outlook between these generation which leads to difficulty in addressing a situation. As strategic therapy is all about optimism, therefore many over traditional therapy prefer it. The only thing that the therapist has to keep in mind is that they have to be well equipped to resolve a problem. Therefore, in reality the fact is therapy is not at all in a verge of ending since it is a source of strength for families and couples to overcome their personal difference and they rely on the therapist to help them a peaceful and hassle free environment and that many prefer the Jay Haley method because it short simple and comes to the point of solving an issue. (Haley and Ricbeport-Haley, 2003) Reference 1. Bowen, M. (2008) “BOWEN THEORY”, available at : http://www.thebowencenter.org/pages/theory.html (accessed on august 24, 2008) 2. Compassion Therapy (2008), Multigenerational Households: When Parents and/or In Laws Move In, A Survival Guide for Family Members, available at: www.compassiontherapy.com/docs/Multigenerational%20Households.pdf (accessed on August 21, 2008) 3. Davies, M. and R. Barton (2001) The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Social Work, Blackwell Publishing 4. Drummond, S. (2008), What is Family Therapy?, Werry Center, available at: www.werrycentre.org.nz/.../library/Updated%20Fact%20Sheets/Family_Therapy-A_Guide_for_Young_People.pdf (accessed on august 21, 2008) 5. Frey, R.J. (2001) "Family therapy". Encyclopedia of Medicine. Available at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2601/is_0005/ai_2601000527 (accessed on august 21, 2008) 6. Haley, J. and M. Ricbeport-Haley (2003), The Art of Strategic Therapy, Routledge, available at: http://www.questiaschool.com/read/107973002?title=Appendix%20B (accessed on august 24, 2008) 7. Messina, J.J. (2008) Family Systems Therapy, available at: www.coping.org/write/C6436counselther/lectures/C6436-11th-Family.ppt (accessed on August 22, 2008) Read More