Alice Garcia-Irvine, Kathy Findley & Laura Rocha 1.

Alice Garcia-Irvine, Kathy Findley& Laura Rocha

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Emerged from humanistic-existentialist movement of the 1960’s

Drew from ◦Gestalt Therapy◦Psychodrama◦Client-centered◦Encounter-group movement

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“The root cause of family problems is emotional suppression” and denial of impulses

Individuals-fulfilling roles Bridging the family-second priority

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Emphasis on freedom Emotional experiences Here-and-now Honest emotion Individual before the family

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Humanistic ◦People are good◦Honest emotions◦People are resourceful, energetic, creative

Existentialist - freedom of choice

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Carl Whitaker (1912-1995)◦Anti-theoretical◦Be yourself ◦Intuition

Virginia Satir (1916-1988)◦Communication ◦Individual self-expression

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Experiential family therapy lost popularity

Then resurgence of trends of therapy Key figures

◦Leslie Greenberg and Susan Johnson

◦Richard Schwartz

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Greenberg and Johnson (1985) Attachment theory Emotion as communication Defenses Deeper emotions

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Internal Family Systems model Clients confront sub-personalities

◦“parts”◦“disowned selves”

Conflict in others (family, friends)◦Conflicts with/within self

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Confuse instrumental & expressive functions of emotions

Control emotions of children Dull emotional experience Not tolerant of individuality Victims (children of these families)

◦ Boredom, apathy and anxiety later

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Satir’s observations◦ Emotional deadness◦ Cold affect◦ Don’t enjoy the family◦ Lack of warmth◦ Avoidance by work/school

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Destructive communication in smothering feelings:◦ Blaming◦ Placating◦ Being irrelevant◦ Being super reasonable.

All are due to low self-esteem

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Spontaneous Did not allow complaining Used positive connotation Taught affection Loving, yet forceful Use of touch as communication Was present and supportive

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Innate inclination toward self-actualization

Conflicts with social structure Not a lot of parental control No restriction of child’s emotions Sharing experiences Open, natural, spontaneous

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Suppression of feelings Denial of impulses Lack of warmth Avoidance Security rather than satisfaction

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Creative and spontaneous Unblock awareness Support individuation Force personality on family Caring and accepting Increase experience levels

◦ Increase affect Don’t diagnose

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Personal integrity Expand experience Liberate affect and impulses Little focus on presenting problem Promote communication Promote interaction

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Family Sculpting Family Puppet Interviews Family Art Therapy Conjoint Family Drawings Animal Attribution Play Therapy Techniques Role-Playing Gestalt Therapy Psychotherapy of the Absurd (Whitaker)

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Gus Napier Carl Whitaker (3 generation rule)

◦ Two therapists◦ Personal encounter◦ Joined family◦ Confrontational

“to overemphasize either the individual or family connectedness is to distort the human condition” (David Keith)

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Goldenberg, I., & Goldenberg, H., (1991). Family therapy an overview (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Nichols, M., (2008). Family therapy concepts and methods (8th ed.). Boston:

Pearson Education.

Piercy, F., & Sprenkle, D., (1986). Family therapy sourcebook. New York: Guilford Press

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