When we talk about therapy, the image of a person lying or sitting in front of the therapist and putting their problems on the agenda, in search of a solution or a way to deal with them, immediately comes to mind.
Often, however, problems may be faced by several family members – both within the family nucleus and among other relatives. If these are issues that are being experienced by everyone at once, the idea is that this treatment be done collectively. And that's where family therapy comes in. So, let's know a little more about this process?
What is family therapy?
Family therapy or systemic family therapy is a process conducted by a psychologist in the joint care of members of the same family. It is systemic because it is based on the treatment of the collectivity within the family, seeing the parts, but focusing on the whole, seeking a solution to problems and balancing the relationship, bringing a healthy and respectful coexistence.
It is a recommended therapy for dysfunctional family groups, that is, those in which there is no dialogue, respect, harmony and the simple fulfillment of each one's family role. Instead, there is distancing, fights and gossip, neglect, accusations, which result in “symptoms” such as aggression, anxiety or depression, poor school performance (in the case of children and adolescents), among other problems that can become a problem. snowball.
In this case, there is no interaction and, consequently, there is no search for a solution within the family. If there is no communication or empathy between “symptomatic” family members, there will hardly be the initiative to resolve all conflicts and reach a peaceful point, because there is no impartial view in this search for a solution. In this way, the figure of the family therapist comes in to untie these knots, this tangle of emotions.
How does it work?
Family psychotherapy sessions are mediated by a therapist, who, for approximately 50 to 60 minutes, organizes and leads the conversation – without interfering – so that everyone can express everything that bothers them.
Unlike conventional therapy, where care is individual, in family therapy, all members participate collectively.
A circle is formed, in a pleasant, well-lit environment, and may also have playful elements, so that children, if any, feel comfortable and emotionally comfortable. During the session, dialogue is the basis of care, and each patient is encouraged to listen attentively to the other.
At the end of the session, the therapist can still suggest exercises for patients to practice at home until the next appointment. And, in the next sessions, they are encouraged to report the advances and changes already made since the beginning of the treatment.
Types of family therapy
There are several types of family therapy, and the indication of each one will depend on the case and the issues to be addressed. Among them, we can highlight: the structural, the Bowenian, the experiential and the strategic.
Each of these approaches has an applied concept. The structural deals with behaviors, analyzing the relationships between family members; the Bowenian deals with balance and the path of self-discovery of each member; the experiential works with self-realization and the construction of levels of intimacy; and the strategy works on changing the way each family member reacts with the “symptomatic” member.
When to do?
In a way, the search for family therapy can take place at any time when one or more family members feel the need (obviously there is a consensus). Not always, however, people have this notion of when to ask for help.
Therefore, a good tip is to understand to what extent the family relationship is weakened due to conflicts, what is the degree of rupture due to personal conflicts or when difficulties are already at a deep level and when it seems that none of the attempts to solve had effects.
Other indications are cases of physical or mental illnesses that cause significant family dysfunction, for example, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, autism, hyperactivity, depression, among others, especially in the case of children or adolescents.
Benefits of family therapy
There are several reasons to seek help in family psychotherapy, as the advantages are numerous and act in the medium and long term, bringing peace and balance to the family nucleus and to all other relatives directly or indirectly involved in the problem or even not being involved.
Here are some of the many benefits of this technique:
- Strengthens family ties;
- It provides opportunities for the use of sincerity and honesty in expressing oneself;
- Helps to develop active listening and empathy;
- Allows everyone to open their hearts and become more transparent;
- Develops team spirit;
- It promotes unity, through the accomplishment of tasks and the search for solutions;
- It encourages the search for a more harmonious and welcoming home;
- It helps to let go of the pain of the past;
- Allows you to resolve feelings such as remorse, guilt, indifference, disobedience, etc.;
- It allows people to focus on the present, as the past is no longer a “ghost”;
- Helps members seek to live a lighter and less grievous life;
- It helps to develop self-knowledge and, consequently, self-control.
The benefits are not limited to those listed here, as family therapy can help in basically every situation, as it encourages members to talk about their emotions through frank and open dialogue. And honestly, that's liberating.
Is Systemic Family Therapy the same as Systemic Constellation?
You may have heard the term “systemic” somewhere, most likely in a technique called “systemic constellation”, which can cause confusion as to the term “systemic family therapy”. The similarities, however, are limited to the term in common, since they are two different things.
Systemic family therapy is a specialization of psychology, pioneered by the Argentine therapist Salvador Minuchin. Family therapy deals directly with the individuals who make up the family, that is, the treatment is done in the presence of the real family members.
On the other hand, systemic constellation – also known as family constellation – is a technique that uses role-playing and interpretation, that is, neutral people are used to represent family members who are involved in the central problem instead of real family members.
Developed by the self-styled psychotherapist Bert Hellinger, the systemic constellation drew on family therapy, but it is another type of approach, which is not part of psychology and has no scientific proof of its effects. This does not mean, however, that it does not present results and benefits.
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And it should be noted that this article does not aim to make any value judgments about pseudosciences, but it is worth emphasizing the differences between systemic therapies and constellations, since the objectives, processes and results are quite different, each one meeting a specific need. If you want to know a little more about the systemic constellations, consult our contents on the topic, which will help you to better understand all these differences.
We hope that this article has helped you understand a little more about family psychotherapy, and if you and your family believe that you need this strength to establish a balance in relationships, do not hesitate to seek the help of a professional. If you know someone who is going through a difficult family situation, please share the article with them. It's sure to be a great way to show that you care!
