CHAPTER 10: Experiential Family Therapy Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice 6th Edition Samuel T. Gladding Developed by Nathaniel N. Ivers, Wake Forest University © (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Overview Importance of Affect in Experiential Family Therapy Major Theorists Premises Techniques Roles of the Therapist Processes Outcomes of Experiential Family Therapy The Uniqueness of Experiential Family Therapy

Experiential Family Therapy Emerged out of the humanistic-existential psychology movement in the 1960s Influenced heavily by Gestalt therapy, psychodrama, client-centered therapy, and the encounter group movement Emphasizes affect. A healthy family is one in which people openly experience life with each other in a lively manner

Major Theorists David Kantor Frank Duhl Bunny Duhl Virginia Satir Carl Whitaker Bernard Guerney Walter Kempler Augustus Napier Leslie Greenberg David Keith

Virginia Satir Published her first book, Conjoint Family Therapy, in 1964 Described as a master of communication and originator of the family communications theory Worked with more than 5,000 families, often in group family therapy Her model of counseling is referred to as the human validation process model

Carl Whitaker Innovative, spontaneous, and unstructured Main contribution was that of helping families get in contact with their absurdity Challenged people to examine their view of reality Since 1988, his approach has been called experiential symbolic family therapy

Premises of the Theory Families are not aware of their emotions or, if aware, they suppress them Lack of emotional awareness and express leads to emotional deadness The resolution is to emphasize sensitivity and feeling expression among family members Emotional expressivity can be verbal but it often is manifested affectively or behaviorally Emphasis placed on the present Humanistic and phenomenological in origin, and also influenced by attachment theory

Treatment Techniques Therapists Who Use Few Techniques: Carl Whitaker: Redefine symptoms as efforts for growth Model fantasy alternatives to real-life stress Separate interpersonal stress and intrapersonal stress Add practical bits of intervention Augment the despair of a family member Promote affective confrontation Treat children like children and not like peers

Treatment Techniques Therapists who use structured techniques: Virginia Satir Modeling of effective communication Using “I” messages Blamer Placater Distractor Computer

Structured Techniques Continued Sculpting Setting the scene Choosing rule players Creating a sculpture Processing the sculpture Choreography Humor Touch

Structured Techniques Continued Props Family Reconstruction Star or explorer and Guide Tools for family reconstruction Family map Family life fact chronology Wheel or circle of influence

Other Experiential Techniques Play Therapy Filial Therapy Family Drawings Conjoint family drawing Symbolic drawing of family life space Puppet Interviews

Role of the Therapist Participate actively (less structured) Facilitate or provide resources (structured) Assist family members to discover their individuality and fid fulfilling rules for themselves Establish an environment that communicates warmth, acceptance, respect, and hope Help family members to clarify goals and to use their natural abilities Likely to behave as real, authentic people

Process and Outcome Family members gain awareness of their needs and feelings and share them with others Families members become more capable of autonomy and real intimacy through awareness of feelings Helps family members fulfill roles for themselves without an overriding concern for the needs of the family as a whole

Process and Outcome The process differs for each experiential family therapist Whitaker Engagement Involvement Satir Making contact Chaos Integration

Unique Aspects of Experiential Family Therapy Training Programs Research Length of treatment Attention to emphasizing people as well as structures within the change process