In Structural family therapy, What are the goals of therapy? Citations included
The correct answer and explanation is:
The goals of Structural Family Therapy (SFT) primarily revolve around understanding and reorganizing the family structure to improve relationships, communication, and functioning. This therapeutic approach, developed by Salvador Minuchin in the 1960s, emphasizes the importance of family dynamics, roles, and boundaries. The main goals of Structural Family Therapy include:
- Restructure Family Dynamics: The primary goal is to restructure the family’s organizational structure, improving roles and hierarchies within the family system. The therapist works to alter dysfunctional patterns of behavior and promote healthier interactions between family members (Minuchin, 1974).
- Clarify Boundaries: One of the key objectives in SFT is to create clear boundaries within the family system. This includes ensuring there are appropriate distinctions between different family subsystems (such as between parents and children) while maintaining flexibility. Poor or rigid boundaries can lead to enmeshment or disengagement, which can be detrimental to family relationships (Minuchin & Fishman, 1981).
- Enhance Communication: Therapy aims to improve communication patterns within the family, addressing both verbal and non-verbal communication. Miscommunication often contributes to dysfunction, and the therapist encourages open, honest, and direct exchanges to foster understanding (Nichols & Schwartz, 2004).
- Promote Parental Authority and Collaboration: SFT seeks to reinforce the authority of parents in the family system while also promoting a collaborative approach to decision-making. This helps to establish clear roles and responsibilities, especially for parents, in guiding the family structure (Minuchin, 1974).
- Resolve Family Conflict: Therapy also addresses conflicts within the family, such as disputes between parents or generational conflicts, and works toward resolving them through better understanding and reorganization (Minuchin & Fishman, 1981).
References:
- Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and Family Therapy. Harvard University Press.
- Minuchin, S., & Fishman, H. (1981). Family Therapy Techniques. Harvard University Press.
- Nichols, M. P., & Schwartz, R. C. (2004). Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods (6th ed.). Pearson Education.