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Structural And Strategic Family Therapy
Compare structural family therapy to strategic family therapy · Create structural family maps · Justify recommendations for family therapy To prepare: · Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide on structural and strategic family therapies. · Refer to Gerlach (2015) in this week’s Learning Resources for guidance on creating a structural family map.
Overview
Family therapy is a vital aspect of psychotherapy, designed to assess and implement necessary changes that enhance a family's overall well-being. Among the various therapeutic models available, structural and strategic family therapy has gained significant attention due to its theoretical depth and practical application. This paper explores both models, highlighting their similarities and differences, and concludes with an example and justification of one model's application.
Structural family therapy primarily addresses family organization, roles, and boundaries, aiming to restructure interactions for healthier dynamics. For instance, in cases where a child takes on a parental role due to unclear boundaries, therapy helps realign family roles to restore balance and promote stability.
On the other hand, strategic family therapy focuses on problem-solving through targeted interventions that modify specific behaviors. For example, if a teenager exhibits defiant behavior, a therapist may use paradoxical interventions—such as prescribing the problematic behavior intentionally—to disrupt negative patterns and encourage change.
Following the framework outlined by Gerlach (2015), structural family maps can be utilized to visually represent family relationships, hierarchies, and levels of enmeshment. These maps provide valuable insights that guide therapists in developing tailored recommendations to improve family functioning.
https://www.sonderwellness.com/therapy/therapy-approaches/family-therapy
