Structural Family Therapy Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Structural Family Therapy?

Structural Family Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the family’s structure and dynamics in order to improve overall functioning. It was developed by Salvador Minuchin and his colleagues in the 1960s. Structural Family Therapy looks at how family members relate to each other, their roles within the family, and how they interact with one another. The goal of this therapy is to help families identify patterns of behavior or structures that are causing difficulty for them, as well as develop new ways of interacting with each other that will result in healthier relationships.The therapist begins by assessing the problem areas within the family such as communication difficulties, lack of involvement from certain members, power struggles, etc., and then works together with the family to create a plan for change. They may work towards creating boundaries between members or developing more flexible roles so everyone can contribute positively toward solving problems. This process also involves examining beliefs and feelings held by each member which may be contributing to problematic interactions among them. Structural Family Therapy believes that an individual’s behavior is shaped largely by their place within their environment meaning how they fit into their given familial structure plays a large role in influencing their thoughts and actions. As such, therapists focus on changing behaviors through changes to either internal or external factors (elements within themselves or elements found outside of themselves). For instance, if there are issues around power dynamics within the family unit itself (such as one parent dominating decision-making), then external change could involve restructuring roles so all adults have equal say over what happens in the home; alternatively if an individual has difficulty expressing emotions due to fear of judgement from others then internal change could involve helping them become more accepting towards those fears allowing them to express themselves more freely without feeling judged or invalidated. By focusing on both individual level interventions while simultaneously addressing bigger picture elements like relationship dynamics among various members.