Experiential Family Therapy EPSY 6393 Marriage and Family Therapy Dr. Scott Sparrow EPSY 6393 Marriage and Family Therapy Dr. Scott Sparrow

Founding Figures Carl Whitaker originally interested in the psychotic mind iconoclastic Virginia Satir originally a member of the Palo Alto Bateson team highly charismatic, a style hard to imitate Carl Whitaker originally interested in the psychotic mind iconoclastic Virginia Satir originally a member of the Palo Alto Bateson team highly charismatic, a style hard to imitate

Founding Principles Emotional suppression is the heart of family problems Dysfunctional families are less tolerant of individualistic emotions Families will improve if family members get in touch with their real feelings and express them Family therapy works from the inside out, so it focuses on the private, unexpressed lives of the individual members of the family Emotional suppression is the heart of family problems Dysfunctional families are less tolerant of individualistic emotions Families will improve if family members get in touch with their real feelings and express them Family therapy works from the inside out, so it focuses on the private, unexpressed lives of the individual members of the family

Theoretical Basis Despite its “anti-theoretical” stance, Experiential Family Therapy is part of the existential-humanistic traditions. They emphasize free will and individual freedom over determinism They focus on the here-and-now, immediate experience Self fulfillment depends on family cohesiveness (Whitaker) Good communication is essential (Satir)--getting beyond blaming, placating, irrelevancy, and being super reasonable. Despite its “anti-theoretical” stance, Experiential Family Therapy is part of the existential-humanistic traditions. They emphasize free will and individual freedom over determinism They focus on the here-and-now, immediate experience Self fulfillment depends on family cohesiveness (Whitaker) Good communication is essential (Satir)--getting beyond blaming, placating, irrelevancy, and being super reasonable.

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy The exception to EFT’s de-emphasis on theory is Greenberg and Johnson’s “Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy.” based on attachment theory We want to get close, but we are afraid to get close helps people relax defensive fears so that more genuine emotions can emerge. The exception to EFT’s de-emphasis on theory is Greenberg and Johnson’s “Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy.” based on attachment theory We want to get close, but we are afraid to get close helps people relax defensive fears so that more genuine emotions can emerge.

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Attachment provides a secure base--the ability to regulate emotions and to explore the world When attachment is threatened, 1. anger and protest (baby cries) 2. clinging 3. despair 4. detachment and separation (emotional cutoff) Attachment provides a secure base--the ability to regulate emotions and to explore the world When attachment is threatened, 1. anger and protest (baby cries) 2. clinging 3. despair 4. detachment and separation (emotional cutoff)

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Attachment is circular When it is fulfilling, the more likely relationships will confirm sense of worth, and encourage more healthy attachment. When a person has been hurt, and is afraid to express attachment needs, then they become stuck Attachment is circular When it is fulfilling, the more likely relationships will confirm sense of worth, and encourage more healthy attachment. When a person has been hurt, and is afraid to express attachment needs, then they become stuck

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy A healthy relationship is a secure attachment bond, characterized by emotional accessibility and responsiveness. Traumatic injuries are traumatic occurrences that damage the bond between partners, and if not resolved, maintain negative cycles and attachment insecurities. A healthy relationship is a secure attachment bond, characterized by emotional accessibility and responsiveness. Traumatic injuries are traumatic occurrences that damage the bond between partners, and if not resolved, maintain negative cycles and attachment insecurities.

Normal Family Development Problems arise when the innate tendency to actualize oneself is suppressed by social forces. family myths (Ferreira), tendency of families to assert a false reality (i.e. harmony) and then to focus on one “bad” member. surplus repression (Marcuse), the tendency of society to tame instincts through repressing them mystification (R.D. Laing), the process of distorting a child’s experience by denying it or labeling it. Problems arise when the innate tendency to actualize oneself is suppressed by social forces. family myths (Ferreira), tendency of families to assert a false reality (i.e. harmony) and then to focus on one “bad” member. surplus repression (Marcuse), the tendency of society to tame instincts through repressing them mystification (R.D. Laing), the process of distorting a child’s experience by denying it or labeling it.

Goals of therapy Each person reports honestly Each person is related to in terms of his or her uniqueness Differences are openly acknowledged and used for growth Each person reports honestly Each person is related to in terms of his or her uniqueness Differences are openly acknowledged and used for growth

Conditions for Change A vital existential encounter between client and therapist is the fundamental key to therapy therapist is fully present and fully human shows caring and acceptance toward clients It’s not what you do or say, it’s who you are. A vital existential encounter between client and therapist is the fundamental key to therapy therapist is fully present and fully human shows caring and acceptance toward clients It’s not what you do or say, it’s who you are.

Conditions for Change Breakthroughs involve therapist using force of his/her personality to provoke therapeutic encounters. (Safer in a group context) Members must risk becoming “more separate, divergent, even angrier” Members must risk becoming closer and more intimate, as well. Breakthroughs involve therapist using force of his/her personality to provoke therapeutic encounters. (Safer in a group context) Members must risk becoming “more separate, divergent, even angrier” Members must risk becoming closer and more intimate, as well.

Techniques Active, whether provoking or supporting Family sculpting, drawing, puppet interviews, animal attribution storytelling Role Playing and empty chair technique (similar to Perls) Touch (Satir) and proximity Active, whether provoking or supporting Family sculpting, drawing, puppet interviews, animal attribution storytelling Role Playing and empty chair technique (similar to Perls) Touch (Satir) and proximity

Techniques Co-therapy in order to balance Whittaker’s intense involvement; one therapist could remain relatively objective while the other entered the emotional “field” of the family. Sharing feelings openly to minimize countertransference Co-therapy in order to balance Whittaker’s intense involvement; one therapist could remain relatively objective while the other entered the emotional “field” of the family. Sharing feelings openly to minimize countertransference

Modern Approaches Emotionally Focused Couples therapy uncovers hurt and longing beneath defensiveness helps couples understand how these feelings are played out focuses on common experience of deprivation, isolation, sense of loneliness, rather than on grievances Emotionally Focused Couples therapy uncovers hurt and longing beneath defensiveness helps couples understand how these feelings are played out focuses on common experience of deprivation, isolation, sense of loneliness, rather than on grievances

Modern Approaches Internal Systems Family therapy helps people get in touch with the fact that the conflict they are experiencing in relationships is actually an internal conflict uses dialogue between “parts” of oneself, which represent different sides of conflicts. based on the premise that underlying the various parts is a unified, core personality. Internal Systems Family therapy helps people get in touch with the fact that the conflict they are experiencing in relationships is actually an internal conflict uses dialogue between “parts” of oneself, which represent different sides of conflicts. based on the premise that underlying the various parts is a unified, core personality.