1. Self-directed Reading & Research 2011 Ed Wohlmuth

2. The Beginning of Family Interventions Child-guidance and marriage counselling work in the early 1900s Physiatrist John Bowlby: connection between a child’s symptoms of emotional distress and the family context. Psychologist Kurt Lewin- theorized that a family (any group)is more than the sum of its parts.

3. Family Systems History Cybernetics 1940s- “to steer”, feedback loops, mechanical systems compared to living, organic systems. Anthropologist Gregory Bateson- Circular causality in biological and social systems During the 1950’s, Gregory Batson, Jay Haley, John Weakland, and Don Jackson examined communication styles on mainly schizophrenic patients.

4. Family Systems History In 1959 Don Jackson in conjunction with Virginia Satir started the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, California During the 1950’s, In 1960’s Salvador Minuchin collaborated with Jay Haley to develop the structural family therapy model at the the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic.

5. Premises of General Systems theory 1. Systems organized as wholes- The whole is greater than the sum of its parts 2. All elements are interdependent - A change in one part of the system will lead to changes in other parts of the system 3. Causality is complex 4. Feedback is a method of controlling how systems function, allows for correction & change. 5. Systems must remain stable (homeostasis) and yet change (adaptability). 6. Adaptability is essential if a system is to avoid the forces of entropy (decay & dissolution).

6. Community and Family Culture/Community- supra-system Family (defined in the broadest sense) is viewed as a system; the family system includes the individual members and their relationships and interactions.

7. Non-blaming Perspective Members of system mutually influence one another One does not need to go to origins in order to solve problems; start anywhere to solve problem Feedback loop- control mechanism in which a circular relationship exists. Linear: Cause- Effect

8. Subsystems and Triangles Family systems consist of subsystems and interlocking triangles Subsystems-alliances Spousal; marital; sibling; gender; etc.

9. Rules for Interacting Boundaries- rules that control the interactions of the members and their relationships. Spoken and Unspoken rules for interactions across boundaries Boundaries Enmeshed (diffuse) Disengaged (rigid) Clear

10. Resource Becvar, D. S. & Becvar, R. J. (2000). Family Therapy A Systemic Integration. Boston, MA., Allyn & Bacon.