Theoretical Orientation Paper

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Springfield College Family Systems Theory Theoretical Orientation Paper MaKaela Henderson 2023 SP COUN 622-V3 Alexander Lerner April 23, 2023

Families in conflict or in suffering as a result of problems with a number of family members may benefit from family systems therapy. With this, the entire family participates in the course of recovery in this type of therapy. The foundation of family systems therapy is the idea that the family is an interrelated emotional unit of people who impact one another and must be understood in terms of the familial structure. It is evident that our early experiences impact the beliefs we maintain about ourselves, others, and the world as adults. Because our self-belief can leave us susceptible, we adopt rules to defend it. By doing this, we develop dysfunctional behaviors, which can later result in mental health issues. The foundation of who we are as an individual is heavily influenced by the familial interactions we experience in our upbringing. A majority of psychological problems are a result of relationships within an individual's familial structure. Some of those issues may not become noticeable until later in life, but nevertheless they do exist. The family system’s therapy can be applied to counseling for couples, singles, and families because it is so diverse. An individual is best understood by assessing the interactions they have with their family because families are so interactional. The idea that the family is larger than the sum of its members is supported by this therapy. When one person in the group is impacted, it may have a profound effect on all the other family members. For the same reason, when one member of the family is having issues, the strength and cohesion of the family can act as a stabilizing force and a source of support. The Family Systems Theory can be based on the suppositions that humans are the result of evolution and that human conduct is profoundly influenced by the same natural processes that influence the behavior of all other living creatures. Most civilizations engage in differentiation, but due to cultural conventions, it takes on a distinct

form. This therapeutic method considers the influence of generational, social, community, and cultural variables on individuals and families in addition to the family system as a whole. I firmly believe that you are a product of the environment in which you live. The majority of individuals that say that do it with a physical interpretation in mind, but I perceive it more emotionally. For instance, a person who was raised in a lower socioeconomic class or in poverty can certainly make the necessary progress to get out of that situation. However, it is likely that they will spend a significant amount of their lives being affected by the emotional experiences they have throughout their upbringing. It need not necessarily be regarded negatively when someone says they are a product of their environment. Family systems therapy frequently considers how aspects of the family may play a role in the development or preservation of such circumstances while addressing individual mental health issues. This kind of therapy would assist family members in comprehending how factors like codependent relationships permit an addiction to persist, as in the case of one family member experiencing a substance use disorder. Family systems therapy is approached with three different methods: structural, strategic, and intergenerational. Each approach naturally targets a different area of human behavior. The structural approach focuses on “interactions, patterns, and behaviors among family members. To minimize dysfunction, the family therapist aims to help restructure the way the family system works. Restructuring can include working on family boundaries, hierarchies of power, and reactions by family members to major life changes.” The strategic approach “addresses family behaviors and interactions that contribute to problem behavior. They help families function better so they can overcome their most pressing problems.” Finally, the intergenerational

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approach “acknowledges that patterns of behavior are passed down from generation to generation, influencing family dynamics and the behavior of individual members. Therapists help the family identify and relate to the problems of their predecessors.” ( Family Systems Approach, 2022) Numerous problems have been demonstrated to benefit from this kind of therapy. Family systems therapy can treat a variety of symptoms or problems that affect individuals and families through enhancing behavioral, emotional, and psychological functioning. This idea could be applied to a wide range of therapy techniques that employ a number of unique techniques aimed at helping the patient as well as the whole family. Couples therapy, narrative therapy, psychoeducation, and intergenerational family therapy are just a few of the various tactics that may be used depending on the needs and desires of the family. The eight main theoretical ideas that support the Bowenian approach to family systems therapy are imperative to keep in mind as a counselor utilizing this form of therapy: triangles, differentiation of self, nuclear family emotional process, family projection process, multigenerational transmission process, emotional cutoff, sibling position, and societal emotional process. In addition to the multiple theoretical ideas, as a counselor you have to take into account the various cultural differences in families. “The intersection of a family’s heritage culture and new mainstream cultural norms results in person-to-person differences in values, beliefs, and behaviors, particularly among immigrant families. These differences often lead to divergent cultural views and patterns of behavior both within and between family members. According to the acculturation gap distress hypothesis, these cultural orientation gaps between family members have consequences for family functioning, and, in particular, adolescents’ adjustment” (Bámaca-Colbert et al., 2019). All families cannot be treated with the same methods. While there

can usually be similar family dynamics across the board (ex. birth order) that can be disrupted by cultural and religious beliefs. Oftentimes, due to generational differences you will be faced with cultural orientation gaps . These gaps are more common in immigrant families, children and adolescents are adopting more to mainstream cultures while their elders/parents are more culture oriented. In the parent-child dyad, different degrees of cultural integration between parents and kids can result in cultural orientation gaps or differing attitudes, behaviors, and expectations that can eventually have a negative impact on parent-child interactions and adolescent outcomes (Bámaca-Colbert et al., 2019). As a counselor with a focus on family system therapy, I would also suggest several kinds of individual treatment. As soon as therapy begins, there are some things that kids or parents might need to work through or may not feel entirely comfortable discussing in front of their family members. This is not a therapy that takes very long to finish, with sessions often including numerous family members and lasting an hour. The family should be in a better place and the care can be stopped after about twelve sessions. During that period of care, I would be able to determine not just which, but how many of the key theoretical concepts I have previously indicated might best apply to a particular family. They all interconnect and a thorough understanding is crucial to determine the best course of action. Emotional triangles, sometimes known as "triangles," typically involve three people. Because it is the smallest stable relational system, it is seen as the foundation for a bigger emotional system. Because little stress can be tolerated in a two-person dyad, it might be said that it is unstable. It is very common for a child to be caught in this triangle with their parents due to a triangle having two sides in harmony (parents) and the third in conflict (child). Essentially, the child is the one with a difference of opinion or sense of rebellion, especially in

those formulating teenage years. Differentiation of self is the patient’s ability to separate their thoughts, feelings, and responses to anxiety. “An individual with a high level of differentiation may be better able to maintain individuality while still maintaining emotional contact with the group. A person with a low level of differentiation may experience emotional fusion, feeling what the group feels, due to insufficient interpersonal boundaries between members of the family” (Team, 2018). The family projection process, the parent (s) may prioritize a focus of anxiety or worry onto their child. When the child reacts to this by experiencing worry or anxiety in turn, may either try to “fix” these concerns or seek professional help (Team, 2018). According to Bowen, the multigenerational transmission process illustrates how people look for mates that have a comparable level of differentiation, which could result in the transmission of particular traits and situations over generations. The level of differentiation in a couple's children may be even lower than that of their parents. Future generations of these kids might have even less differentiation than their own. According to Bowen, people may be able to end this pattern, find relief from their low differentiation symptoms, and stop the symptoms from recurring or happening to other family members. This is because when people raise their levels of differentiation, they may be able to break the cycle. (Team, 2018) When a person chooses to emotionally distance oneself from other family members in order to better manage emotional challenges or other concerns within the family system, this is referred to as cutting off emotionally. Cutting emotional ties may be an attempt to tackle unresolved interpersonal difficulties and lessen relationship stress and tension, but while the relationship may be less prone to overt dispute, the ultimate consequence is frequently an increase in anxiety and tension. Bowen thought that emotional cutoff would cause people to prioritize new relationships more highly, which would strain those relationships in turn.

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The term "sibling position" refers to the tendency of the eldest, middle, and youngest children to take on particular responsibilities within the family as a result of varying expectations, parental discipline, and other reasons. For instance, older kids might be expected to behave like little adults in the home. The relative sibling status of parents and other family members may have an impact on these functions. These roles have a tendency to cause different levels of stress of the children depending on their birth order status. The societal emotional process serves as an example of how concepts influencing the family's emotional system also influence the social emotional system. There are similarities between societal and familial emotional function, and people in society may feel more uneasy and unstable during moments of regression. These regressive times can be impacted by a variety of variables, including overcrowding, the accessibility of energy, the state of economy, and others. According to Bowen, the nuclear family frequently encounters problems in four key areas: intimate partner conflict, problematic conduct or worries in one partner, emotional distance, and reduced functionality in children. This belief appears in the nuclear family emotional process. (Team, 2018) Lack of communication among family members is the root cause of bottled-up feelings, misunderstandings, and family issues. There is a chasm between everyone in the family when family members find it difficult to communicate with one another. A dysfunctional home environment may result from all the pent-up emotions in the family, which can snowball into one major disaster. Enhancing communication, resolving family issues, and fostering a better functional home are the three objectives of family therapy. Long-term dealing with dysfunctional family relationships can affect everyone's mental health. Marriage and family counseling is

crucial for this reason. Divorce, another factor that may contribute to mental health difficulties, may result from unresolved marital issues. Who will be particularly impacted? the youngsters. Your child has to see a psychiatrist since their growth and development can heavily depend on how they handle your marital problems.

References: ● Family Systems Approach. Newport Academy. (2022, December 19). Retrieved April 22,2023 https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/glossary/family-systems- approach/#:~:text=The%20eight%20principles%20of%20family%20system%20theory %20are%3A%20triangles%2C%20differentiation,position%2C%20and%20societal %20emotional%20process ● Lerner, A. (2023) Theories PowerPoint Chapter 14: Family Systems. (PowerPoint slides). Sport and Exercise Psychology, Springfield College. ● Bámaca-Colbert, M. Y., Henry, C. S., Perez-Brena, N., Gayles, J. G., & Martinez, G. (2019, December). Cultural orientation gaps within a family systems perspective. Journal of family theory & review. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7220130/ ● Team, G. T. E. (2018, January 30). Family systems therapy. GoodTherapy. Retrieved April23,2023from https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/family- systems-therapy ● Corey, G., (2017). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (10th ed.). Stamford, CT:

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