minuchin- outline view of human nature source of motivation development of pathology nature of...

Minuchin- OutlineMinuchin- Outline

View of human nature View of human nature Source of motivation Source of motivation Development of pathology Development of pathology Nature of change Nature of change Therapeutic relationship Therapeutic relationship

SuccessesSuccesses

►Family problems with children that are Family problems with children that are in control, and parents are not being in control, and parents are not being effective.effective.

►Drug and Alcohol problems – inclusion Drug and Alcohol problems – inclusion of spouse/partner and family, both of spouse/partner and family, both extended and immediate members.extended and immediate members.

►Working with subsystems where the Working with subsystems where the problem has been identified as problem has been identified as something else.something else.

Minuchin-Minuchin- View of human natureView of human nature

► Families and members exist within a Families and members exist within a structure. Structures are built through structure. Structures are built through repetitive family interactions.repetitive family interactions.

► There is a natural order to life, and There is a natural order to life, and generational roles include grandparents, generational roles include grandparents, extended family, parents, children, etc.extended family, parents, children, etc.

►Hierarchy is made up of both a hard side Hierarchy is made up of both a hard side and a soft side. Usually, problems are and a soft side. Usually, problems are created when the parental subsystem is created when the parental subsystem is inconsistent in its use of both sides, i.e., one inconsistent in its use of both sides, i.e., one parent is hard the other is soft, and they parent is hard the other is soft, and they undercut each others positions.undercut each others positions.

Minuchin-Source of motivation Minuchin-Source of motivation

►Structure- organized patterns and Structure- organized patterns and predictable sequences. These become predictable sequences. These become family rules that exist in unmentioned, family rules that exist in unmentioned, covert family operating principles. covert family operating principles. (What are some of the covert rules in (What are some of the covert rules in your family)your family)

►subsystems- joining of members in small subsystems- joining of members in small groups for the performance of functions, groups for the performance of functions, i.e., i.e., Child/mother Father/son Child/mother Father/son mother/father Grandmother/teenmother/father Grandmother/teen

Minuchin-Source of motivationMinuchin-Source of motivation

►Structure- exists for a reason (function of Structure- exists for a reason (function of the symptom) most often in complement the symptom) most often in complement with others.with others.

►Flexibility – permeable boundaries and Flexibility – permeable boundaries and rolesroles

►Complementary vs. parallel relationshipsComplementary vs. parallel relationships►Competition – ganging up on each other Competition – ganging up on each other

to win.to win.►Hierarchy – hard side / soft sideHierarchy – hard side / soft side►Chaos – lack of observable structureChaos – lack of observable structure


►Boundaries - Range from rigid to diffuseBoundaries - Range from rigid to diffuse►Rigid - rules are set in stoneRigid - rules are set in stone►Disengaged – member of family that is Disengaged – member of family that is

not involved with others.not involved with others.►Diffuse – boundaries are not well defined.Diffuse – boundaries are not well defined.►Enmeshment - over involvement with Enmeshment - over involvement with

family or member of family, at the family or member of family, at the expense of growth and change. Over expense of growth and change. Over doing support.doing support.


► Couples subsystem – partnership vs. over and Couples subsystem – partnership vs. over and under. Covert or overt rules that are agreed under. Covert or overt rules that are agreed upon either tacitly or otherwise keep them upon either tacitly or otherwise keep them stable in the face of potential change.stable in the face of potential change.

► Accommodate – process of reciprocal Accommodate – process of reciprocal agreements. agreements. Complementary patterns Complementary patterns Boundaries from children – (I want my wife back)Boundaries from children – (I want my wife back) MF MF CC CC

Minuchin- Development of Minuchin- Development of pathologypathology

► Inflexible structuresInflexible structures►Stress Stress

►Attention is paid to proximity and Attention is paid to proximity and distance between family members and distance between family members and subsystems and these are defined subsystems and these are defined through boundaries, or rules which through boundaries, or rules which determine who participates and how.determine who participates and how.


►The extremes of the proximity and The extremes of the proximity and distance continuum are enmeshment distance continuum are enmeshment and disengagement, with most (i.e. and disengagement, with most (i.e. “normal”) families and subsystems “normal”) families and subsystems lying at intermediate points between lying at intermediate points between two poles.two poles.

►A family is described or schematized A family is described or schematized spatially in terms of its hierarchies and spatially in terms of its hierarchies and alliances or coalitions. alliances or coalitions.


► Problems result from a rigid, dysfunctional Problems result from a rigid, dysfunctional family structure.family structure.

► (Note that the use of the term dysfunctional (Note that the use of the term dysfunctional is meant to get away from the pathologizing is meant to get away from the pathologizing frame of diagnosis, and focuses on patterns frame of diagnosis, and focuses on patterns or sequences of behavior, rather than on or sequences of behavior, rather than on people. The term dysfunctional family people. The term dysfunctional family inadvertently became a name used to inadvertently became a name used to pathologizing whole family systems, rather pathologizing whole family systems, rather than describe patterns.)than describe patterns.)


►Hierarchies are weak and ineffectiveHierarchies are weak and ineffective►Boundaries and assumptions are rigid Boundaries and assumptions are rigid

and arbitrary. and arbitrary. C/M C/F G/F/C G/M/C C G C/M C/F G/F/C G/M/C C G FC MC CM CF MF C FC MC CM CF MF C P P

►Men don’t cry; women belong in the Men don’t cry; women belong in the home; children should be seen and not home; children should be seen and not heard, etc.heard, etc.

Minuchin- Nature of changeMinuchin- Nature of change

►Alter structureAlter structure►Alter boundariesAlter boundaries►Realign subsystemsRealign subsystems►Establish healthy hierarchy and leadership. Establish healthy hierarchy and leadership.

►Reframe definitions of problems, and/or Reframe definitions of problems, and/or assumptions of life: Johnnie needs his assumptions of life: Johnnie needs his space and parents should not check up on space and parents should not check up on him. Yet, Johnnie has been busted for pot him. Yet, Johnnie has been busted for pot 3Xs.3Xs.

Minuchin- Therapeutic Minuchin- Therapeutic relationshiprelationship

► Joining – meeting all family members where Joining – meeting all family members where they are, and making them feel welcome.they are, and making them feel welcome.Language- (Mimesis) using the language of Language- (Mimesis) using the language of the family. the family.

►Behavior- Tracking, and accommodation to Behavior- Tracking, and accommodation to family’s present views of the problem and family’s present views of the problem and family life.family life.

►Attempts to project all the problem on the Attempts to project all the problem on the I.P. are met with, “yes, but we need your I.P. are met with, “yes, but we need your help; if one member of the family is having help; if one member of the family is having a problem it effects everyone; we can’t a problem it effects everyone; we can’t change Johnnie without your help.change Johnnie without your help.

Minuchin- TechniquesMinuchin- Techniques

► The basic goal is to induce a “more adequate The basic goal is to induce a “more adequate family organization” of the sort that will family organization” of the sort that will maximize growth and potential in each of its maximize growth and potential in each of its members.members.

► The thrust of the therapy is toward The thrust of the therapy is toward “restructuring” the system, such as establishing “restructuring” the system, such as establishing or loosening boundaries, differentiating or loosening boundaries, differentiating enmeshed members and increasing the enmeshed members and increasing the involvement of disengaged members.involvement of disengaged members.

► The therapeutic plan is gauged against The therapeutic plan is gauged against knowledge of what is “normal” for a family at a knowledge of what is “normal” for a family at a given stage in its development, with due given stage in its development, with due consideration of its cultural and socioeconomic consideration of its cultural and socioeconomic context.context.


► Techniques such as unbalancing a system and Techniques such as unbalancing a system and intensifying an interaction are part of the intensifying an interaction are part of the therapy.therapy.

► The therapist “joins” and accommodates to The therapist “joins” and accommodates to the system in a sort of blending experience, the system in a sort of blending experience, but retains enough independence both to but retains enough independence both to resist the family's pull and to challenge resist the family's pull and to challenge (restructure) it at various points. He thus (restructure) it at various points. He thus actively uses himself as a boundary-maker, actively uses himself as a boundary-maker, intensifier and general change agent in the intensifier and general change agent in the session.session.

Minuchin- TechniquesMinuchin- Techniques ►Treatment is limited to include those Treatment is limited to include those

members of a family who live within a members of a family who live within a household or have regular contact with the household or have regular contact with the immediate family. However, this might immediate family. However, this might involve grandparents living nearby, or involve grandparents living nearby, or even an employer, if the problem is work even an employer, if the problem is work related.related.

►The practice is to bring a family to a level The practice is to bring a family to a level of “health” or complexity” and then stand of “health” or complexity” and then stand ready to be called in the future, if ready to be called in the future, if necessary. Such a model is seen to necessary. Such a model is seen to combine the advantages of short and long-combine the advantages of short and long-term therapy. (Stanton, M.D., 1981 JMFT)term therapy. (Stanton, M.D., 1981 JMFT)


► Notice problematic behavior sequence. This Notice problematic behavior sequence. This can also be done by asking: “What happens can also be done by asking: “What happens then, and then what happens,” etc. to get then, and then what happens,” etc. to get cycle or pattern.cycle or pattern.

► Initiate an enactment. “So how does that Initiate an enactment. “So how does that work...can you show me?” Or, “Mom and Dad, work...can you show me?” Or, “Mom and Dad, can you discuss this now, please?”can you discuss this now, please?”

► Ask family to discuss issue Ask family to discuss issue Therapist defines a sequence Therapist defines a sequence Ask family to discuss sequence Ask family to discuss sequence Guide family to modify sequence Guide family to modify sequence Tracking Tracking


►Restructuring Restructuring Symptom focusing- Symptom focusing- Re label symptom Re label symptom Alter effect Alter effect Expand symptom Expand symptom Exaggerate symptom Exaggerate symptom Deemphasize symptom Deemphasize symptom


►Work for structural modifications Work for structural modifications (usually, working to reestablish (usually, working to reestablish corrected hierarchies).corrected hierarchies).

►Challenge and correct faulty realities.Challenge and correct faulty realities.►Create new subsystems. Create new subsystems. ►Block dysfunctional transaction patterns Block dysfunctional transaction patterns

Reinforce new family structures Reinforce new family structures Education family about change Education family about change

TechniquesTechniques

►Highlighting and Modifying Highlighting and Modifying InteractionsInteractions

►Shaping CompetenceShaping Competence

AssessmentAssessment

►Using the symbols in the book, Using the symbols in the book, diagram your partner’s family –diagram your partner’s family –Structural Mapping, then change and Structural Mapping, then change and have your partner diagram your have your partner diagram your family.family.

minuchin- outline view of human nature source of motivation development of pathology nature of...

Documents

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family members

extended family

family systems

dysfunctional family

term dysfunctional family

minuchin view

repetitive family interactions