Structural Family Theory
Structural family therapy (SFT) is rooted in family systems theory, but it is unique in its focus on family structure and its preference for remaining grounded in the here and now (Vetere, 2001, p. 133). For structural family therapists, family wholeness is the most important goal and individual symptoms are viewed as the result of dysfunctional family transactions (Lappin & Minuchin, 2011). When the family structure is reorganized, the family can interact functionally and harmoniously (M. Reed, personal communication, July 28, 2015). This paper explains the structural theory of family dysfunction, the conditions necessary for change, the primary goals of SFT, the role of the structural family therapist, and the multicultural and gender implications
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133), and like other systems theorists, he believed that a family’s contexts, including internal and external stressors, were more important than an individual family member’s symptoms (M. Reed, personal communication, July 28, 2015). According to structural theory, symptoms are best understood in the context of family transactional patterns as members respond to stressors: a healthy family maintains a balance between continuity and flexibility as it reorganizes itself in response to developmental and situational changes; a dysfunctional family is inflexible and unable to adjust obsolete transactional patterns in response to change (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013, p. …show more content…
134; Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013, p. 285). Minuchin (as cited in Lappin & Minuchin, 2011) stated that the outcome of therapy should be a whole, harmonious family system in which family members are responsible for each other and have the capacity to act towards each other in ways that are healing. For example, in one family Minuchin saw, the mother remarried and her daughter was having difficulty adjusting. Stress and conflict created three separate dyads—mother/stepfather, mother/daughter, and stepfather/daughter. Minuchin’s ultimate stated goal was to reorganize the family into a complete “threesome” (Lappin & Minuchin,
133), and like other systems theorists, he believed that a family’s contexts, including internal and external stressors, were more important than an individual family member’s symptoms (M. Reed, personal communication, July 28, 2015). According to structural theory, symptoms are best understood in the context of family transactional patterns as members respond to stressors: a healthy family maintains a balance between continuity and flexibility as it reorganizes itself in response to developmental and situational changes; a dysfunctional family is inflexible and unable to adjust obsolete transactional patterns in response to change (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013, p. …show more content…
134; Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013, p. 285). Minuchin (as cited in Lappin & Minuchin, 2011) stated that the outcome of therapy should be a whole, harmonious family system in which family members are responsible for each other and have the capacity to act towards each other in ways that are healing. For example, in one family Minuchin saw, the mother remarried and her daughter was having difficulty adjusting. Stress and conflict created three separate dyads—mother/stepfather, mother/daughter, and stepfather/daughter. Minuchin’s ultimate stated goal was to reorganize the family into a complete “threesome” (Lappin & Minuchin,