CHAPTER 9:
Transgenerational Theories:
Psychodynamic Family Theory
and Bowen Family Systems
Theory
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
•
Psychodynamic Family Therapy
•
Bowen Family System Therapy
•
Unique Aspects of Psychodynamic and Bowen
Approaches to Family Therapy
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-2
Psychodynamic Family Therapy
•
Major Theorists
•
Premises of the Theory
•
Treatment techniques
•
Role of the Therapist
•
Process and Outcome
•
Defense Mechanisms
•
Unique Aspects
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-3
Psychodynamic Family Therapy: Major
Theorists
•
Nathan Ackerman
•
Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy
•
James Framo
•
Theodore Lidz
•
Norman Paul
•
Donald Williamson
•
Robin Skynner
•
Lyman Wynne
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-4
Psychodynamic Family Therapy: Premises of
the Theory
•
Based on the classic work of Sigmund Freud
•
Resolving conflict occurs through two actions:
•
Strengthening defenses against conflicted wish
•
Relaxing defenses to permit some gratification
•
Understanding one’s unconscious by taking into
account context
•
Interlocking pathology
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-5
Object Relations Theory
•
Bridge between classical Freudian theory and
family therapy
•
Object: something that is loved, usually a person
•
Object relations
•
relationship between two people that includes
deep emotional attachments.
•
Can exist in the outer world or in the unconscious,
inner world
•
Can explain relationships across generations
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-6
Object Relations Theory
Splitting
•
•
Unconscious procedure in which object
representations are perceived as all good or all
bad
•
Allows people to control their anxiety and objects
by making them predictable
•
Provides a way for psychodynamic clinicians to
explain reasons for marital choices and family
interaction patterns
•
Stresses the value of working with the
unconscious
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-7
Psychodynamic Family Therapy: Treatment
Techniques
•
Transference
•
Dream and Daydream Analysis
•
Confrontation
•
Focusing on Strengths
•
Life History
•
Complementarity
•
Interpretation
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-8
Psychodynamic Family Therapy: Role of the
Therapist
•
Teacher
•
Good enough Mother
•
Catalyst
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-9
Psychodynamic Family Therapy: Process and
Outcome
Process
•
•
Free family members of unconscious restrictions
•
Help family members interact with one another
as a whole, on the basis of current realities
rather than past, unconscious images
Outcomes
•
•
Differentiation of self
•
Crisis resolution – symptom reduction
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-10
Defense Mechanisms
•
Repression
•
Denial
•
Regression
•
Projection
•
Rationalization
•
Reaction Formation
•
Displacement
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-11
Psychodynamic Family Therapy:
Comparison with Other Theories
•
Linearity – focusing on cause-and-effect
interactions
•
Expense and time commitments
•
Intellectual ability
•
Empirical research
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-12
Bowen Family Therapy
•
Major Theorists
•
Premises of the Theory
•
Treatment techniques
•
Role of the Therapist
•
Process and Outcome
•
Unique Aspects
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-13
Bowen Family Therapy: Major Theorists
Murray Bowen
•
•
•
Noticed similarities between dysfunctional
families and families with members with
schizophrenia
•
Began Georgetown Family Center Symposium
•
Founded the American Family Therapy Academy
(AFTA)
Michael Kerr
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-14
Bowen Family Therapy: Premises of the Theory
•
Chronic anxiety in life that is inherent in life
•
Anxiety manifests both emotionally and physically
•
Some are more affected by anxiety than others,
depending on how previous generations
expressed anxiety
•
Chronic anxiety negatively affects families
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-15
Bowen Family Therapy: Basic Concepts
•
Differentiation of Self
•
Nuclear family emotional process
•
Bowen transmission process
•
Family projection
•
Triangles
•
Cutoffs
•
Sibling position
•
Emotional process in society
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-16
Bowen Family Therapy: Treatment Techniques
•
Genograms
•
Going Home Again
•
Detriangulation
•
Person-to-Person Relationships
•
Differentiation of Self
•
Asking Questions
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-17
Bowen Family Therapy: Role of the Therapist
•
Differentiated - objective and neutral
•
Coach and teacher
•
Co-interpreters with their clients in assessing and
working through Bowen patterns of fusion and
cuttoffs.
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-18
Bowen Family Therapy: Process and Outcome
•
Understand intergenerational patterns and gain
insight into historical circumstances that affect
interactions
•
Emphasis of change is with the individual or
couple
•
Most rapid family change occurs when spouses
work together in therapy
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-19
Bowen Family Therapy: Unique Aspects
•
Calls attention to family history and the
importance of noticing and dealing with past
patterns
•
Uses genograms
•
Systemic in nature, controlled in focus, and
cognitive in practice
•
Can be used with individuals and couples, as well
as families
Gladding, Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Ed.
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
9-20