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Experiential Family Therapy. Alice Garcia-Irvine, Kathy Findley & Laura Rocha. History of Experiential therapy. Emerged from humanistic-existentialist movement of the 1960’s Drew from Gestalt Therapy Psychodrama Client-centered Encounter-group movement. Main premises.
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Experiential Family Therapy Alice Garcia-Irvine, Kathy Findley & Laura Rocha
History of Experiential therapy • Emerged from humanistic-existentialist movement of the 1960’s • Drew from • Gestalt Therapy • Psychodrama • Client-centered • Encounter-group movement
Main premises • “The root cause of family problems is emotional suppression” and denial of impulses • Individuals-fulfilling roles • Bridging the family-second priority
Theoretical Key Concepts • Emphasis on freedom • Emotional experiences • Here-and-now • Honest emotion • Individual before the family
Theoretical Philosophy • Humanistic • People are good • Honest emotions • People are resourceful, energetic, creative • Existentialist - freedom of choice
Innovators and History • Carl Whitaker (1912-1995) • Anti-theoretical • Be yourself • Intuition • Virginia Satir (1916-1988) • Communication • Individual self-expression
Resurfacing • Experiential family therapy lost popularity • Then resurgence of trends of therapy • Key figures • Leslie Greenberg and Susan Johnson • Richard Schwartz
Emotionally focused couples therapy • Greenberg and Johnson (1985) • Attachment theory • Emotion as communication • Defenses • Deeper emotions
Richard Schwartz • Internal Family Systems model • Clients confront sub-personalities • “parts” • “disowned selves” • Conflict in others (family, friends) • Conflicts with/within self
“Problem” Families • 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
Satir and “problem” atmospheres • Satir’s observations • Emotional deadness • Cold affect • Don’t enjoy the family • Lack of warmth • Avoidance by work/school
Satir continued • Destructive communication in smothering feelings: • Blaming • Placating • Being irrelevant • Being super reasonable. • All are due to low self-esteem
Satir’s approaches • Spontaneous • Did not allow complaining • Used positive connotation • Taught affection • Loving, yet forceful • Use of touch as communication • Was present and supportive
Normal Family Development • 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
Problematic Behaviors • Suppression of feelings • Denial of impulses • Lack of warmth • Avoidance • Security rather than satisfaction
Qualities of therapist • Creative and spontaneous • Unblock awareness • Support individuation • Force personality on family • Caring and accepting • Increase experience levels • Increase affect • Don’t diagnose
Goals of therapy • Personal integrity • Expand experience • Liberate affect and impulses • Little focus on presenting problem • Promote communication • Promote interaction
Primary Techniques • 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)
Nonconformists • 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)
References 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