Family Systems: Focus on Structural and Multigenerational Family Therapies
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Family systems therapy has its basis on the systems thinking which suggests that the functioning of the family influences individual behavior. Systemic theory has its foundation on the idea that parts of the system (individuals) remain inseparable from the whole (family or community) and thus any forthcoming change will require the adaptation of the whole system (Corey, 2012). The family systems theoretical framework stands on the assumption that understanding the behavior of the system requires the consideration of the individual characteristics of the elements within the system and the relationship exhibited by these elements. For that reason, any particular problem experienced by the individual is not seen as a problem in itself but part of a larger process involving many other people, behaviors, and meanings (Karam, Blow, Sprenkle, & Davis, 2015). In this context, the family therapist demonstrates skills that inspire conversations in a way that encourages strength, wisdom, and support of the wider system. Overall, although systematic models such as the structural and multigenerational family therapies may share several abstract principles, they vary considerably in the way they employ more concrete concepts to hypothesize why problems emerge within systems and how the intervention might happen.
Main Components of Structural Therapy
Structural family therapy is one of the earliest systemic models. It was first advanced by Salvador Minuchin and emphasizes addressing individual psychopathology through family structure reorganization as the main goal of the therapy. The therapist enters, or “binds” with the family system as a catalyst that seeks to achieve positive change by demonstrating empathy to disarm defenses, ease anxiety, build trust and establish a bond to accept the changes (McNeil, Herschberger, & Nedela, 2013). Change happens when the therapist joins the family, probes for areas of flexibility, and then goes further to activate dormant structural alternatives. The model focuses on concepts such as family structure, subsystems, hierarchies, boundaries and coalitions/alliances.
Structural therapy focuses on reorganization by creating new structures and opening alternative patterns of interaction. The therapist analyzes the family structure as the invincible set of functional demands that organize family interactions. Family organizations rotate around subsystems (spousal, parental and sibling) with the boundaries (rigid and diffuse) regulating the interactions (McAdams et al., 2016). Rigid boundaries lead to the disengagement of the family while diffuse boundaries lead to enmeshment. The theory retains traditional views regarding the importance of power and hierarchy in the family such as parents setting rules for their children. As the family interacts, the therapist observes the current problematic patterns. The therapist brings to the attention of the family any coalitions (family members may team up against others) that he or she might observe (McNeil, Herschberger, & Nedela, 2013). The therapist evaluates the structure of the family by focusing on family relationships, behaviors, and patterns as exhibited during the therapy session. The therapist then unbalances and disrupts the current structure to encourage the family to create new interaction patterns through reframing by helping the family place a problem in a different context to make it more workable. Eventually, the family learns to integrate the changes into the family structure to create new structures.
Main Components of Multigenerational Family Therapy
The multigenerational family therapy is another notable theory. The model designed by Murray Bowen maintains the need to analyze families across generations to predict unresolved emotional attachments. The model assumes that a predictable pattern of interpersonal relationships connects the family members functioning across at least three generations (Donley & Likins, 2010). The multigenerational family theory focuses on eight underlying concepts that manifest within the family namely its emotional system including differentiation of self (core concept), emotional triangles, family projection, multigenerational transmission, emotional cutoff, nuclear family emotional process, sibling position, and the societal emotional process (Karam et al., 2015). The role of the multigenerational therapy is to deal with the unresolved attachments.
The therapeutic interventions include process questions, tracking sequences, teaching and coaching to help individuals to attain self- differentiation. The therapist aims at detecting psychological factors, hereditary traits, and notable issues from the past that may impact psychological well-being of an individual (Lampis et al., 2017). The therapist asks process questions to encourage individuals to reflect on their role in relating to others as the first step to self-differentiation. Therapy strives to track sequence or relationship experiments which are behavioral tasks whose objective is exposure and alterations of the dysfunctional relationship processes in the family system. The therapist engages the individual in coaching which involves helping the person identify triggers to emotional reactivity and adapt alternative responses to enhance independence, confidence, and emotional stability (Karam et al., 2015). The therapist o organize, categorize events, help predict future events, explain past events, give an explanation about the cause of events, and give the potential for control of future events. Change towards self- differentiation arises from self-motivation whereby the individual learns to separate their emotional functioning from the emotional issues of others and function on their own reasoned principles (Lampis, Cataudella, Busonera, & Skowron, 2017). The model assumes that one’s family member’s self-differentiation will affect the next person and so on until self-differentiation happens among all the family members.
Similarities and Differences Between Both Structural and Multigenerational Family Therapy
There are similarities and differences between the two models. For instance, both focus on how an individual functions within a family setting. For example, the structural family theory stipulates that reorganization of the family to bring change requires the observation of patterns of behavior among the family members to see the role played by each member (subsystems) and how they contribute to the destabilization of the family structure through boundary formation (Corey, 2012). In contrast, the multigenerational theory focuses on bringing change through the process of self-differentiation to learn, correct emotional experiences, and gain a heightened understanding of how the individual functions within a family context across various generations. The person realizes that they are part of a larger system that affects them. From this perspective, individuals can embark on self-differentiation to break the chain which opens the way for other family members to do the same (Miller, Anderson& Keals, 2004). Overall, the end goal of the two models is to help individuals come to terms with the fact that they are part of an interrelated system through which change must occur.
Another similarity is that the goal of the therapy is to encourage modifications for change to occur. For example, multigenerational family therapists aim to help the individuals decrease and relieve negative emotions including anxiety, emotional reactivity/emotional cutoff, resolve unfinished business, differentiate between thoughts and feelings and between self and others (Miller, Anderson, & Keals, 2004). Similarly, the structural family therapist stimulates structural family change by encouraging individuals to modify their patterns of behavior to join, accommodate and make a structural diagnosis of their shortcomings towards bringing change (McAdams et al., 2016). The idea behind the two theories is to encourage individuals to take full responsibility for their actions and act accordingly to ensure that they break the cycle of emotional turmoil.
Despite their similarities, the two models exhibit some differences. For example, although focusing on relationships between individuals, multigenerational therapy looks into the past for the insight, emphasizing the root and history of the problem across at least three generations to come up with the solution. The model focuses on the eight concepts mentioned earlier to trace the emotional anxiety experienced by individuals within the family context (Donley & Likins, 2010). The multigenerational theory assumes that the present situation experienced by individuals is an outcome of the powerful influences posed by unresolved conflicts from early experiences and even from past generations. In contrast, the structural therapy focuses on the current interactions between the family and the patterns of behavior to determine how to resolve the problem. The structural therapy analyzes the current interactions by the subsystems, the boundaries demonstrated and established within the process of interaction to determine the root of the problem (McAdams et al., 2016). The implication is that the model desists from tracing issues from the past or previous generations and lays its foundation on the issue at hand only.
Another difference illustrated by the two models is the role of the therapist. For instance, the multigenerational therapist acts as a coach or passive observer who observes from the outside (Miller, Anderson, & Keals, 2004). The therapist focuses on asking questions and is more like a passive observer or consultant to collect comprehensive information. The therapist guides the process by drawing genograms and facilitating the journey, helps the individuals notice their problematic areas by providing them with the feedback. In contrast, the structural therapists play a central role in encouraging change by joining or entering the family to get a first-hand understanding of the invisible rules that guide the family (McAdams et al., 2016). The therapist plays a leadership role by being part of the process, which means that he or she remains very active by making suggestions and directing activities towards restructuring the family.
A Detailed Exploration of Which Theory You Would Subscribe to and Why
Although the two models have been critical in advancing the family systems, the structural family model is the most applicable due to its strength-based, outcome-oriented treatment approach (McNeil, Herschberger, & Nedela, 2013). The theory recognizes that the recognition of a well-functioning family depends on how effectively it handles the conflict or stress in response to the developing needs of its members and the changing conditions in its environment. The theory focuses on the need to reinforce the positives. The therapist helps the family to locate and mobilize underutilized strengths which come in handy in helping the family outgrow constraining patterns of interaction by adjusting its boundaries and patterns of behavior. The fact that the theory focuses on the present without conforming to the past heightens the process of healing and makes it easier to adapt (McAdams et al., 2016). Another strength posed by the structural family theory is that it is easily adaptable to best meet the needs of differing types of family system, especially in the contemporary society where single-parent and same-sex families continue to be on the rise.
In conclusion, both the multigenerational and the structural family therapies continue to offer the means of dealing with issues within the family system albeit differently. While the structural theory strives to restructure the family to bring change, the multigenerational model focuses on how certain issues across the generation affect the individuals. There are some similarities between the two approaches including the role of the individual in the system and also the need for behavior modification to bring change. There are also differences between the two models including the role of the therapist and the fact that the multigenerational model focuses on the past while the structural theory dwells on the present to make changes.
References
Corey, G. (2012). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (9th ed.). Cengage
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Donley, M. G., & Likins, L. (2010). The multigenerational impact of sibling relationships. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 38(5), 383-396.
Karam, E. A., Blow, A. J., Sprenkle, D. H., & Davis, S. D. (2015). Strengthening the systemic ties that bind: Integrating common factors into marriage and family therapy curricula. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 41(2), 136-149.
Lampis, J., Cataudella, S., Busonera, A., & Skowron, E. A. (2017). The role of differentiation of self and dyadic adjustment in predicting codependency. Contemporary Family Therapy, 39(1), 62-72.
McAdams, C. R., Avadhanam, R., Foster, V. A., Harris, P. N., Javaheri, A., Kim, S., ... & Williams, A. E. (2016). The viability of structural family therapy in the twenty-first century: An analysis of key indicators. Contemporary Family Therapy, 38(3), 255- 261.
McNeil, S. N., Herschberger, J. K., & Nedela, M. N. (2013). Low-income families with potential adolescent gang involvement: A structural community family therapy integration model. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 41(2), 110-120.
Miller, R. B., Anderson, S., & Keals, D. K. (2004). Is Bowen theory valid? A review of basic research. Journal of marital and family therapy, 30(4), 453-466.
