© Love Publishing: Monit Cheung & Patrick Leung 1 Adlerian Theory & Family Systems Theory Meeting 4...

© Love Publishing: Monit Cheung & Patrick Leung1

Adlerian Theory& Family Systems Theory

Meeting 4

© Cheung, M., & Leung, P. (2008). Multicultural practice and evaluation: A case approach to evidence-based practice. Denver, CO: Love.

Instructors who adopt this book may use this PowerPoint to teach your course without prior permission. Please address questions and comments to [email protected].


Adlerian Approach

as a Student (1885, age 15)

as a Young Man (Before 1900)

as a Soldier (1891, Age 21)

Alfred Adler in his 60's


Adlerian Theory

Assumes:– Positive view of human nature– Social influence is significant (much more so than

biological)– People can create a distinctive lifestyle at an early

life– Consciousness is the center of personality


Goals of Adlerian Therapy

Challenge clients’ mistaken notions and faulty assumptions so that they can develop the useful side of life

Provide encouragement to help develop socially useful goals


Techniques

Family Constellation Analysis– Birth order– Family atmosphere– Parental relationship– Family values– Extended family and culture

Life Script Questionnaire– Early recollections


Practice: Adlerian Techniques

In pairs, practice with the script– Issue #1: Personal Connections to Family Issues

(p. 120)


Practice: Family Constellation

Practice the questions on the top of p.134.If your partner is a single child, practice from this list: What was your father’s/mother’s relationship with you? Which part of you was most like your father/mother? Name a

characteristic. What were you like as a child? How did your parents get along when you were about 10? How did your parents settle disagreements when you were

about 10?


Practice: Adlerian Techniques

In pairs, practice with the script– Issue #2: Sibling Relationships (p.121)


Practice: Lifestyle Assessment

In pairs, take turns asking questions from the assessment tool (starting with Three Wishes on p.134).

Don’t attempt to provide answers for this practice

Identify one question to which you would provide an answer and share with your partner


Family Systems Theory

Intergenerational or Transgenerational Models of Practice

Murray Bowen’s Family Therapy


Bowen’s 8 Interlocking Concepts

1. Differentiation of self

2. Triangles

3. Nuclear family emotional system

4. Family projection process

5. Emotional cutoff

6. Multigenerational transmission process

7. Sibling position

8. Societal regression


1. Differentiation of Self

Ability to – Separate feelings from thinking– Distinguish between the intellectual process and the feeling

process– Experience the difference between intimacy and autonomy– Balance objectivity and subjectivity– Pull self from fused relationships when needing to see

things clearly away from their influence– Separate self from FOO in a healthy way


2. Triangles

Pull relationship with help from a third person Reach out and pull in the other person so that

emotions can flow into that person Create emotional tensions because of the three-way

relationship Act as a building block in a family’s relational system Balance unhealthy relationship between 2 individuals Maintain involvement and yet separate emotions

when using it well


3. Nuclear Family Emotional System

People seek partners that likely have the same level of differentiation as theirs

They repeat the patterns of relationship as established in the FOO

They will continuously seek ways to reduce tension through relationships

Intense fusion between partners will cause instability in the nuclear family emotional system

– Physical or emotional dysfunction in a spouse– Overt, chronic, or unresolved marital conflict– Psychological impairment in a child


4. Family Projection Process

Levels of undifferentiation can be passed from one generation to the next

Parents transmit their values to the most susceptible child

Intensity of projection is related to– Degree of immaturity or undifferentiation of the

parents– Level of stress the family experiences


5. Emotional Cutoff

A flight of extreme emotional distancing from FOO A way to break emotional ties An effort to deal with unresolved fusion with one or

both parents (or siblings) A denial defense to a problem or unresolved conflict A way to free self from unfinished business that may

effect current relationships


6. Multigenerational Transmission

Values, conflicts, and unresolved anxiety may be passed from one generation to the next

Severe dysfunction may be the result of chronic anxiety transmitted over several generations


7. Sibling Position

Birth order and personality has a connection Birth order predicts certain roles and

functions an individual plays Functional position is more important than

the actual birth order Sibling position may affect the nuclear family

emotional system


8. Societal Regression

Society’s emotional functioning is similar to the family emotional system in that there are always two opposing forces toward undifferentiation and individuation

Consider the importance of society’s value toward individuation and check its cultural value toward an individual


Practice: Family Systems

Issue #1: Family History (pp. 138–140) In groups of three, role-play from the script

Discussion: Identify techniques that you may want to try


Daily Affirmation

Genuine beginnings begin within us, even when they are brought to our attention by external opportunities.– William Bridges


FOS—Family of Origin Scale

Think of a specific age that has significant meanings to the client

Fill out the FOS Calculate the scores Discuss and address questions about

childhood learning


Family of Origin Scale: Your PracticeReference: Fischer, J., & Corcoran, K. (2007). Measures for clinical practice and research. Oxford Press. (pp. 306–308)

Step 1: Fill out the FOS in reference to you when you were 12.

Step 2: Reverse score the following items so that 5=1, 4=2, 3 unchanged, 2=4, and 1=5 (e.g., if you score 1 in item #2, cross out 1 and write 5 next to it)

2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 33, 37, 39

The reverse score is only a psychometric method to calculate your FOS score. It is not to change your answer.

Bring your FOS to class next week for further assessment procedures.


References

Cheung, M., & Leung, P. (2008). Multicultural practice and evaluation: A case approach to evidence-based practice. Denver, CO: Love.

Fischer, J., & Corcoran, K. (2007). Measures for clinical practice and research. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Goldenberg, H., & Goldenberg, I. (2008). Family therapy: An overview. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole.

© Love Publishing: Monit Cheung & Patrick Leung 1 Adlerian Theory & Family Systems Theory Meeting 4...

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