Family therapy: types and forms of application

This type of psychological intervention helps with conflicts and negative social dynamics.

When we think of someone doing therapy, we usually imagine an individual session in which a person interacts with the psychologist. We may also conceive of the possibility of a group sessionwith different people with the same type of problem.

But there is also a type of therapy that is applied to a family group, the so-called family therapyin which conflicting aspects between members of the same family are treated. In this article we indicate what it is and what it is used for.

What is this type of psychological intervention?

Family therapy is understood as that modality of therapy centered on the family as the object of intervention. The objective is to strengthen and provide resources to the family so that they can act in a collaborative way thanks to it. to settle disputes and conflicts between them or problems of a single individual.

The family is understood as a basic element in the development of the human being, as it represents the fundamental element that allows the infant to acquire a model regarding how to see, act, relate and communicate with the world. It is an essential element when learning emotional and relational aspects, with great influence on development.

That is why in this type of treatment is to involve two or more members of the same family in order to observe and, in the event in order to observe and, if necessary, modify the interaction patterns among family members.

It is conceived that the internal problem of an individual is preceded by the presence of interpersonal conflicts, which when internalized can provoke symptoms. The pathological is linked to the non-acceptance of new roles in one of the individuals, being roles and communication at the basis of the existence of numerous mental and social problems.

Family therapy and the systemic perspective

One of the main currents and the one most closely linked to this type of therapy is the systemic current. is the systemic current. From this perspective, the family is conceived as a system, a set of elements whose sum generates a result greater than the simple addition of each one of them, giving birth to new elements, properties and characteristics from their interaction.

For the systemic perspective, the behavior and state of one of the components of the family cannot be understood separately from the system, as the system influences each individual and vice versa. The family would be an open system, receiving information from the environment, being affected by the environment and exchanging information with it in order to be able to adapt and subsist. Each one of the members is, therefore, affected by the environment.

Changing behavioral dynamics

From the systemic model it is not tried to modify directly the problematic conductbut to change the family dynamics and the pattern that provoke it, facilitate it or give it utility or sense. A more indirect way is sought to reach the same end, while causing an improvement and enhancement of positive family dynamics and the strengths of both the system and each of its components.

Some of the key aspects of systemic family therapy are the communication processes (in which incongruent analog or digital communication styles, expressed affectivity and emotion or the presence of rigidity), the assignment of roles and the need to change them, the clear or diffuse structure of the family and the boundaries between people that may allow or inhibit the process of creating an autonomous identity, the negotiation of conflicts or the establishment of power relations between family members.

There are of schools and techniques even within one and the same perspective.. The Milan school, the structuralist school of Minuchin or the Palo Alto school are examples of different perspectives within the systemic current. In terms of specific techniques, task prescription, imbalance (temporarily allying with one of the components of the system to change the family boundaries), dramatization, redefinition of symptoms in a positive way, paradoxical intention or instigation are used.

The properties of the family system

Within the system there are different properties:

1. circular causality

The behavior of one member of the system is influenced by the behavior of the others, just as one's own behavior influences the behavior of the others.The behavior of one member of the system is influenced by the behavior of the others, just as one's own behavior influences the rest of the system. If one shouts, the rest will have a reaction, and the reaction will generate a response in the first one.

2. Totality

The system generates its own responses due to interaction, being more than the mere sum of its parts.

3. Equifinality

Different people can arrive at the same point through different paths. Thus two people can arouse anxiety (e.g.) from different (for example) from different stimulations.

4. Equicausality

The opposite of equifinality. The same starting point can lead to different conclusions. Thus, an event will be experienced differently by different people.

5. Homeostasis

The system tends to try to find a state of equilibrium. This leads to the need for profound changes in order to be maintained over time, or else it may revert to the original state. On the other hand, if a consistent change is achieved and integrated into the system, it can be maintained over time.

Family therapy from other perspectives

When we speak of family therapy, we are generally associating it with a type of treatment linked to the systemic current. However, and despite the fact that the development of family therapy is closely linked to this current of thought, throughout history there have been multiple theoretical perspectives that have worked with this type of therapy. In this sense we can find that, in addition to the systemic perspective, this form of therapy has been worked from the two that you can see below.

Psychodynamic perspective

Some currents of psychoanalysis have also applied aspects of family therapy, especially those following the theory of object relations. From this perspective a patient's symptom is seen as indicative of a failure to resolve the developmental sequence of one or both parents.

Existing conflicts cause the infant's emotion to be repressed.This, on the one hand, causes the conflicted parent to remember and relive his or her lack of developmental resolution and, on the other hand, causes the conflicted parent to reflect his or her conflicts in the treatment of the child. The therapy is centered in visualizing and working with the relations of transference and countertransference in order to help the set of the family to solve its sequences of development.

Cognitive-behavioral perspective.

From this perspective, therapy focuses on the direct resolution of a specific problem presented by the family or one of its members, the objective being quite specific.

Couples therapy, parent training or psychoeducation are some of the modalities that have been treated in this perspective. are some modalities that have been treated from this perspective. In some cases the family may be used as co-therapist, if the objective is to modify the behavior of one of the members. But it can also serve to solve dysfunctional aspects of the family itself.

Applications of this type of therapy

Family therapy has been used since its origins to help solve various types of problems. Among them, the following can be found.

1. Family crises

The existence of intra-family problems that cannot be solved by traditional means have frequently been reasons for consulting family therapy. A difficult situation, aspects linked to the life cycle, such as the birth of children or the arrival of a new family such as the birth of children or the arrival of their emancipation, a death whose mourning has not been elaborated or some latent conflict between its members are valid examples.

2. Couples therapy

Couples therapy is one of the subtypes of family therapy. Overcoming problems in the couple such as lack of communication, exhaustion, infidelity or incompatibility in some aspects of life are some of the most frequent reasons for consultation.

3. Behavioral problems or mental disorders in one of the partners.

Especially when the subject in question is one of the children, it is not uncommon for the parents to decide to try to remedy it. In many cases, parents or family members may be employed as co-therapists who can facilitate the maintenance of changes and the following of programs established by the therapist.

Also, in other cases, the problems presented may be strongly influenced by the communication patterns of families (e.g., dysfunctional homes or couples who continually argue may contribute to emotional and behavioral problems).

4. Treatment of addictions and other disorders

In the treatment of various addictions and even other psychological disorders, it can be very useful to integrate the closest family members, so that they can help the subject to stay away from stimuli that may trigger the consumption response. that elicit the consumption response. They can also participate in making the subject see the need to continue with treatment and the advantages of stopping consumption, as well as reinforcing the behaviors that favor recovery.

5. Psychoeducation

Psychoeducation with families can be fundamental in order to help the person's environment understand their situation, what to expect, what they can do to help them or the steps they need to take.

6. Training for parents

Parent training is a great advantage for parents who have children with behavioral problems or who do not know how to deal with specific situations they are experiencing during their development. It teaches how to cope with maladaptive behaviors through through molding and positive stimulation that allows the child to adapt.

The therapist's position

Within family therapy, the therapist has a particular role. Although it depends on the perspective from which the family therapy is applied, as a general rule the professional must remain in an equidistant position between all the members of the family present in the therapy, without taking sides with any of its members. He/she must try to ensure that all members can give their opinion and that it is listened to and valued by the other participants.

Depending on the case and the modality of family therapy, occasionally you can establish temporary alliances with some of the members in order to focus the attention of the group on certain aspects, but later on you will have to return to a neutral position.

In some cases it will have to remain as an external and cold element that limits itself to point out the patterns of the group. In other cases it may be necessary to play the role of an additional family member in order to introduce a new element in the therapy and help to show the different points of view.

Bibliographical references:

• Almendro, M.T. (2012). Psychotherapies. Manual CEDE de Preparación PIR, 06. CEDE: Madrid.

• Minuchin, S. (1974). Familias y terapia familiar. Gedisa: Mexico.

• Ochoa, I. (1995). Enfoques en terapia familiar sistémica. Herder: Barcelona.