What is Structural Family Therapy? | MFT Models

Summary

In this video, Stephanie Yates Anyabuila provides an insightful overview of Structural Family Therapy (SFT), a classic model developed by Salvador Minuchin in the 1960s and 70s. The approach emphasizes the family’s hierarchy and boundaries, focusing on how these structures influence family dynamics, especially during conflict. Key techniques like unbalancing, reframing, and boundary making are discussed, highlighting how therapists help families adjust their roles and interactions. The goal is to create healthier, more flexible family structures that foster better communication and resolve issues effectively.

Takeaways

• 😀 Structural therapy, developed by Salvador Minuchin, focuses on how a family is structured and aims to create a healthier family dynamic through restructuring.
• 😀 Minuchin introduced the concept of boundaries in family systems, emphasizing the need for firm but flexible boundaries between family members.
• 😀 The hierarchical structure in a family is a key focus in structural therapy, with parents ideally at the top and children beneath them. Conflicts can reveal who holds power within the family.
• 😀 Clear boundaries are essential in family dynamics. Too rigid boundaries can lead to disengagement, while overly flexible boundaries can lead to enmeshment.
• 😀 Structural therapy identifies common family issues such as detouring (blaming a child for family problems), stable coalitions (where one child and one parent team up), and unstable coalitions (where both parents pull a child in opposite directions).
• 😀 The joining phase in structural therapy involves building trust with each family member, establishing the therapist as the authority, and observing the family dynamics.
• 😀 In the evaluation phase, the therapist maps the family structure, identifying subsystems, boundaries, and coalitions within the family, even including people outside the family unit if relevant.
• 😀 Restructuring involves changing the family structure by adjusting boundaries, roles, and hierarchies to create more functional relationships.
• 😀 Techniques in structural therapy include unbalancing (role-playing or aligning with a family member who lacks authority) and reframing negative behaviors (e.g., interpreting a controlling action as concern for safety).
• 😀 Boundary-making techniques are used to shift family dynamics, such as altering seating arrangements or assigning family members roles they don't typically assume, creating discomfort to push for change.
• 😀 Structural therapy aims for both short-term and long-term goals, helping families achieve both immediate solutions and sustainable improvements in their relationships and communication.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Structural Therapy?

Structural Therapy focuses on understanding and restructuring the family dynamics, particularly by analyzing the family’s hierarchy and boundaries to promote healthier relationships.

Who developed Structural Therapy and when?

Structural Therapy was developed by Salvador Minuchin in the 1960s and 70s, during the early days of the marriage and family therapy movement.

What was Minuchin’s view on family hierarchy?

Minuchin believed that a family’s hierarchy should place parents at the top and children beneath. This hierarchy is often tested in moments of conflict, revealing deeper issues in the family structure.

What role do boundaries play in Structural Therapy?

Boundaries in Structural Therapy define the rules of interaction within a family. Minuchin advocated for boundaries that were firm yet flexible, ensuring that family members respect each other while allowing for special circumstances.

What is the significance of the ‘joining’ phase in therapy?

The 'joining' phase involves the therapist establishing trust with all family members while asserting authority within the therapy room. This sets the stage for analyzing the family’s structure and dynamics.

What are common boundary issues identified in Structural Therapy?

Common boundary issues include **enmeshment** (excessive dependence between family members) and **disengagement** (rigid boundaries leading to emotional isolation), both of which can harm the family unit.

Can you explain the concept of ‘unbalancing’ in Structural Therapy?

Unbalancing is a technique where the therapist disrupts the family’s existing power dynamics, often by having family members role-play each other, to highlight hierarchical imbalances and encourage changes in behavior.

How does Structural Therapy differ from psychoanalysis?

Structural Therapy is more focused on external family dynamics and interactions, whereas psychoanalysis delves into the individual’s unconscious mind and inner conflicts. Structural Therapy is present-focused and pragmatic.

What is meant by ‘reframing’ in Structural Therapy?

Reframing involves changing the way certain behaviors are viewed, turning negative perceptions into more positive or understandable ones. For example, a parent’s overprotectiveness could be reframed as concern for safety.

What is the long-term goal of Structural Therapy?

The long-term goal of Structural Therapy is to restructure the family system by adjusting the boundaries and hierarchy to create a more functional and flexible family dynamic that fosters healthier relationships and communication.