Term
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Definition
| Problems in family systems develop as a result of power struggles, “family games,” and rigid family rules that perpetuate the problem behavior. ● Presenting problems serve a function of maintaining homeostasis in the family. |
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Term
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Definition
| The therapist facilitates change through the use of prescriptions that help the family develop new ways of thinking about and experiencing the perceived problem. |
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Term
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Definition
| The therapist is directive and part of the system. ● Maintains a neutral, non-reactive stance. ● Co-creator of change in the system. ● Work as part of a therapeutic team. |
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Term
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Definition
| The unique world views and beliefs held by individuals and families |
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Term
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Definition
| Strategies used by family members, often unspoken or unacknowledged, to gain control over the behavior of others. |
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Term
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Definition
| The stance of the therapist during treatment is neutral, non reactive, and curious. The therapist explores different hypotheses and remains open to all perspectives. |
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Term
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Definition
| Relabeling family members’ behaviors as something positive that exist to help the family maintain homeostasis and family cohesion. |
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Term
| Counterparadox (aka Therapeutic Double Binds |
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Definition
| : A therapeutic directive that is intended to disrupt the family members’ conflicting processes that maintain the problem |
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Term
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Definition
| All communication is multilayered. The surface layer of communication is what is verbally stated whereas metacommunication is the second layer and qualifies what is verbally stated. |
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Term
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Definition
| The therapist prescribes a ritual, usually in writing, which requires the family to carry out a specific act at a particular time, location, and details who should engage in the ritual and how often it should be done. |
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Term
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Definition
| A change-oriented intervention. The therapist provides a directive to the client/family, with the expectation that the family will defy the directive and consequently move toward the desired change. |
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Term
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Definition
| The therapist tries to answer the question of why the behavior exists and develops possible explanations that guide interventions |
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Term
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Definition
| Technique used primarily during the interview process. Asks successive questions to family members trying to elicit the different viewpoints within the family and allows the therapist to identify interactional sequences, feedback loops, and family rules. |
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Term
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Definition
| Understand the family rules and attempt to change them. ● Develop an alternative family belief system. ● Clarify the rules of the “game” and help loosen the rigid family transactions ● Introduce interventions, ideas and ways of thinking that will “perturb” the system and allow the clients to make the changes |
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Term
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Definition
| Uses a 5-step structured approach, which includes: 1. Pre-session: Team meets to discuss information shared during initial call and subsequently meets after each session to discuss what transpired and strategize for the next session. 2. Session: Two team members meet with the family to test hypotheses and determine accuracy or need for changes. 3. Intersession: Therapist in room with family would exit and meet with the observation team to discuss what transpired in the room, whether hypotheses needed to be modified and what interventions should be issued to the family. 4. Intervention (Conclusion): The therapist briefly returns to room with family and shares the intervention. 5. Postsession discussion: Therapeutic team meets without family present to discuss how family responded to intervention, develop additional hypotheses that will be the starting point for next presession. |
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Term
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Definition
| Considered a “long” short-term therapy. Families would meet for a total of 10 sessions over the course of a year. Sessions would be held at least one month apart in order to let things incubate. Beginning: One team member completes an initial telephone call with family. Early/Middle: Follows the 5-step structured approach described above. End:The family no longer views its presenting problem in pathological terms and team is no longer needed, treatment will be terminated. |
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