Alice Garcia-Irvine, Kathy Findley& Laura Rocha

1

Emerged from humanistic-existentialist movement of the 1960’s

Drew from ◦Gestalt Therapy◦Psychodrama◦Client-centered◦Encounter-group movement

2

“The root cause of family problems is emotional suppression” and denial of impulses

Individuals-fulfilling roles Bridging the family-second priority

3

Emphasis on freedom Emotional experiences Here-and-now Honest emotion Individual before the family

4

Humanistic ◦People are good◦Honest emotions◦People are resourceful, energetic, creative

Existentialist - freedom of choice

5

Carl Whitaker (1912-1995)◦Anti-theoretical◦Be yourself ◦Intuition

Virginia Satir (1916-1988)◦Communication ◦Individual self-expression

6

Experiential family therapy lost popularity

Then resurgence of trends of therapy Key figures

◦Leslie Greenberg and Susan Johnson

◦Richard Schwartz

7

Greenberg and Johnson (1985) Attachment theory Emotion as communication Defenses Deeper emotions

8

Internal Family Systems model Clients confront sub-personalities

◦“parts”◦“disowned selves”

Conflict in others (family, friends)◦Conflicts with/within self

9

Confuse instrumental & expressive functions of emotions

Control emotions of children Dull emotional experience Not tolerant of individuality Victims (children of these families)

◦ Boredom, apathy and anxiety later

10

Satir’s observations◦ Emotional deadness◦ Cold affect◦ Don’t enjoy the family◦ Lack of warmth◦ Avoidance by work/school

11

Destructive communication in smothering feelings:◦ Blaming◦ Placating◦ Being irrelevant◦ Being super reasonable.

All are due to low self-esteem

12

Spontaneous Did not allow complaining Used positive connotation Taught affection Loving, yet forceful Use of touch as communication Was present and supportive

13

Innate inclination toward self-actualization

Conflicts with social structure Not a lot of parental control No restriction of child’s emotions Sharing experiences Open, natural, spontaneous

14

Suppression of feelings Denial of impulses Lack of warmth Avoidance Security rather than satisfaction

15

Creative and spontaneous Unblock awareness Support individuation Force personality on family Caring and accepting Increase experience levels

◦ Increase affect Don’t diagnose

16

Personal integrity Expand experience Liberate affect and impulses Little focus on presenting problem Promote communication Promote interaction

17

Family Sculpting Family Puppet Interviews Family Art Therapy Conjoint Family Drawings Animal Attribution Play Therapy Techniques Role-Playing Gestalt Therapy Psychotherapy of the Absurd (Whitaker)

18

Gus Napier Carl Whitaker (3 generation rule)

◦ Two therapists◦ Personal encounter◦ Joined family◦ Confrontational

“to overemphasize either the individual or family connectedness is to distort the human condition” (David Keith)

19

Goldenberg, I., & Goldenberg, H., (1991). Family therapy an overview (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Nichols, M., (2008). Family therapy concepts and methods (8th ed.). Boston:

Pearson Education.

Piercy, F., & Sprenkle, D., (1986). Family therapy sourcebook. New York: Guilford Press

20