Application Of Bowenian And Structural Theories

Application Applying Bowenian And Structural Theoriestheory Based Tre

Application: Applying Bowenian and Structural Theories Theory-based treatment planning, the type you will use throughout this course, is informed, and guided by your theoretical orientation. Incorporating your theoretical orientation into treatment planning will help you set goals and choose treatment techniques and interventions appropriate for the client(s) you serve (Gehart & Tuttle, 2003). This week you apply two counseling theories, Bowenian and structural, to formulate your treatment planning and apply appropriate interventions. In this Application Assignment, you watch videos of counselors demonstrating the use of Bowenian and structural theories in family counseling. You then formulate treatment plans for the families in the videos, applying the theories in question and justifying the use of appropriate interventions.

Keep in mind that while you may not have adopted either of these theories as your theoretical orientation, you should still base your treatment planning and interventions on them for the purposes of this Application Assignment. Reference: Gehart, D. R., & Tuttle, A. R. (2003). Theory-based treatment planning for marriage and family therapists. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. The assignment (4–6 pages) Based on the theory demonstrated in both videos: · Define the problem. · Formulate a treatment plan including short- and long-term goals. · Describe two theory-based interventions you would use and justify your selection. · Explain one anticipated outcome of each. Support your Application Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Family therapy is a nuanced and complex field that employs various theoretical frameworks to facilitate positive change within familial systems. Among these, Bowenian Family Therapy and Structural Family Therapy stand out due to their distinctive approaches to understanding family dynamics and their respective intervention strategies. This paper analyzes video demonstrations of these two therapies to develop tailored treatment plans that address specific familial problems. By defining the problems, setting goals, selecting theory-based interventions, and predicting outcomes, this analysis underscores the practical application of Bowenian and Structural theories within family counseling.

Problem Definition

The families depicted in the videos present distinct issues rooted in familial relationships. In the Bowenian video, the primary concern revolves around escalating conflicts between adult siblings who are unable to establish healthy boundaries with their aging parents, leading to emotional entanglements and unresolved loyalty conflicts. The Structural family therapy video showcases a family experiencing conflicts during mealtimes, characterized by rigid hierarchies and boundaries, resulting in sibling rivalry and disruptive behaviors among children. Both scenarios highlight systemic issues that require targeted interventions aligned with each theoretical framework.

Treatment Plan and Goals

For the Bowenian family, the short-term goal is to increase awareness of intergenerational patterns and differentiation, reducing emotional reactivity and fostering individual autonomy. The long-term goal is to achieve healthier boundaries and transactional patterns that promote autonomous functioning within the family system.

In the Structural family, short-term goals focus on realigning family subsystems by modifying boundaries and establishing clear hierarchies. The long-term goal involves creating a more flexible family structure that supports adaptive interactions and decreases conflict during family interactions.

Theory-Based Interventions and Justifications

Bowenian Interventions

1. Genogram Construction: Developing a genogram enables clients to visualize intergenerational patterns, identify familial loyalties, and recognize repetitive cycles. This intervention promotes insight into family-of-origin influences and facilitates differentiation. According to McGoldrick and Gerson (1985), genograms are instrumental in helping clients understand their relational patterns across generations, which is essential for fostering emotional autonomy.

2. Emotional Cutoff and Detriangulation: Encouraging clients to emotionally detach from dysfunctional family relationships and reduce triangulation helps diminish reactive behaviors and promotes individuation. This intervention aligns with Bowen's emphasis on differentiation of self and managing emotional reactivity (Gehart & Tuttle, 2003).

Anticipated Outcomes

The genogram intervention is expected to increase clients’ awareness of intergenerational influences, fostering insight into patterns that hinder autonomy. Detriangulation should lead to decreased familial conflict, improved emotional regulation, and greater independence among family members.

Structural Family Therapy Interventions

1. Reframing and Boundary Making: The therapist works to identify and modify rigid or diffuse boundaries by promoting boundary clarification and appropriate subsystem boundaries. This creates a more functional family structure, reducing enmeshment or disengagement. Minuchin (1974) advocates for boundary making as a key technique in structural therapy to reorganize family subsystems effectively.

2. Enactments: Guided family enactments allow members to express roles and interactions in real-time, facilitating the therapist’s ability to observe and intervene directly. This technique enables real-time restructuring of dysfunctional interactions, promoting more flexible and functional family patterns (Nichols, 2018).

Anticipated Outcomes

Reframing and boundary making are expected to produce more adaptable subsystems, reducing conflict and promoting cooperation. Enactments are anticipated to increase awareness of interactions, enabling families to practice healthier responses, thereby fostering a more harmonious family environment.

Conclusion

Effective family therapy necessitates a clear understanding of systemic issues and the strategic application of appropriate interventions grounded in sound theoretical frameworks. The Bowenian approach emphasizes differentiation and intergenerational influences, aiding clients in developing autonomy and reducing reactive patterns. In contrast, structural therapy focuses on realigning subsystems, boundaries, and hierarchies to create a functional family structure. Both approaches offer valuable interventions that, when applied thoughtfully, can lead to meaningful change, enhancing family cohesion and resilience.

References

• Gehart, D. R., & Tuttle, A. R. (2003). Theory-based treatment planning for marriage and family therapists. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
• McGoldrick, M., & Gerson, R. (1985). Genograms in family assessment. Norton.
• Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. Harvard University Press.
• Nichols, M. P. (2018). Family therapy: Concepts and methods. Pearson.
• Gurt, A. S., Lebow, J. L., & Snyder, D. (2015). Clinical handbook of couple therapy (5th ed.). Guilford Press.
• Brown, N. D., & Samis, M. C. (1986). The application of structural family therapy in developing the binuclear family. Mediation Quarterly, (14/15), 51–69.
• Farmer, C., & Geller, M. (2005). The integration of psychodrama with Bowen's theories in couples therapy. Journal of Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama & Sociometry, 58(2), 70–85.
• Larson, J. H., & Wilson, S. M. (1998). Family of origin influences on young adult career decision problems: A test of Bowenian theory. American Journal of Family Therapy, 26(1), 39–53.
• Geurart, D. R., & Tuttle, A. R. (2003). Theory-based treatment planning for marriage and family therapists. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
• Additional scholarly articles as needed for depth and support.