Applying Bowenian and Structural Theories
Applying Bowenian and Structural Theories
Applying Bowenian & Structural Theories For this assignment, two different theoretical approaches will be discussed, Bowenian family therapy and structural family therapy, and they will be used individually to construct a treatment plan to help clients reach their goals. Within each treatment plan discussed, short-term and long-term goals of therapy will be established and the family’s presenting problems will be defined. Two techniques that will be assigned to help them reach their therapeutic goals and any expected outcome from using those techniques will be discussed.
The Presenting Problems Judy, Adrian, and Pamela are a family of three that have all come into counseling seeking help (Psychotherapy.net, 2012). Judy and Adrian want to understand their thirty-year old daughter’s behavior and both parents are frustrated because they have been having a hard time communicating and getting along with their daughter Pamela (Psychotherapy.net 2014). Their chief complaint is Pam’s anger and disrespect. She ignores their attempts to communicate with them and she frequently displays anger towards her parents (Psychotherapy.net, 2014). Although Pamela appears to withdraw from her parents she is in fact fused, or undifferentiated, with her parents (Psychotherapy.net, 2012). Her poor differentiation indicates an emotional dependency on her parents (Psychotherapy.net, 2012; Gurman, 2008). There is a lot of emotional reactivity, Pam vents her frustration through verbal and physical displays of anger, Judy withdraws from Pamela, and Adrian reacts with pressure and anger (Psychotherapy.net, 2012) All of them are cutoff, which is when individuals distance themselves from their families (Gurman, 2008), This occurs when Pamela ignores her parent’s attempts at communicating with her, and by her emotional distance from Judy. Pamela uses “I don’t know” a lot when asked why she does things (Psychotherapy.net, 2012)
Applying Bowenian & Structural Theories For this assignment, two different theoretical approaches will be discussed, Bowenian family therapy and structural family therapy, and they will be used individually to construct a treatment plan to help clients reach their goals. Within each treatment plan discussed, short-term and long-term goals of therapy will be established and the family’s presenting problems will be defined. Two techniques that will be assigned to help them reach their therapeutic goals and any expected outcome from using those techniques will be discussed.
The Presenting Problems Judy, Adrian, and Pamela are a family of three that have all come into counseling seeking help (Psychotherapy.net, 2012). Judy and Adrian want to understand their thirty-year old daughter’s behavior and both parents are frustrated because they have been having a hard time communicating and getting along with their daughter Pamela (Psychotherapy.net 2014). Their chief complaint is Pam’s anger and disrespect. She ignores their attempts to communicate with them and she frequently displays anger towards her parents (Psychotherapy.net, 2014). Although Pamela appears to withdraw from her parents she is in fact fused, or undifferentiated, with her parents (Psychotherapy.net, 2012). Her poor differentiation indicates an emotional dependency on her parents (Psychotherapy.net, 2012; Gurman, 2008). There is a lot of emotional reactivity, Pam vents her frustration through verbal and physical displays of anger, Judy withdraws from Pamela, and Adrian reacts with pressure and anger (Psychotherapy.net, 2012) All of them are cutoff, which is when individuals distance themselves from their families (Gurman, 2008), This occurs when Pamela ignores her parent’s attempts at communicating with her, and by her emotional distance from Judy. Pamela uses “I don’t know” a lot when asked why she does things (Psychotherapy.net, 2012)
References: Gehart, D. R., & Tuttle, A. R. (2003). Theory-based treatment planning for marriage and family therapists. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Gladding, S. T. (2010). Family therapy: History, theory, and practice (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson. Gurman, A. S. (2008). Clinical handbook of couple therapy (4th ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press. Psychotherapy.net. (Producer). (2012). Bowenian family therapy [Motion picture]. [With Philip Guerin, MD]. United States: Psychotherapy.net. Psychotherapy.net. (Producer). (2014). Structural family therapy [Motion picture]. [With Harry Aponte, LCSW]. United States: Psychotherapy.net.