
Family therapy is a type of therapy that was also discussed by Freud and Adler. It has its roots in the early 1900s, but became popular during the 1940s and 50s. Some of its major contributors include Murray Bowen, Milton Erickson, Gregory Bateson, Salvador Minuchin, Virginia Satir, Jay Haley, among others.
The fundamental approach in family therapy is to have the entire family or certain members participate in therapy sessions together to work towards solving the problem.
It aims to help the individual—who cannot be considered separately from their family or social context—find sustainable solutions to their issues by setting common goals with those closest to them and collaborating constructively with other family members.
The foundation of family therapy is built on ideas and studies aimed at resolving family issues and improving child-rearing practices. It focuses on analyzing the individual’s interactions with their environment to find systemic and structural solutions. The system is greater than the sum of its parts.
Various forms of family therapy include:
Systemic family therapy
Structural family therapy
Narrative family therapy
Solution-focused family therapy
Functional family therapy
Attachment-based family therapy, and many others.
The approach emphasizes a holistic perspective, solution-focused practices, relationship-oriented views, salutogenic principles, communication theories, behavioral and cognitive theories. It avoids stigmatization and focuses on fostering positive perspectives, developing coping mechanisms, increasing awareness, promoting acceptance, and implementing preventive, protective, and rehabilitative measures.
Family therapy offers rapid, lasting, and cost-effective solutions to many problems.
Hasan Durna
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