Respond to two of your colleagues' postings and explain how your colleagues' posts might help you refine and inform your own theoretical orientation on Bowen's theory. Select and respond to a colleague who selected a different theory and title your posting as follows: "Integrating [X] theory into [Y] theory".

Colleague 1:

The personal lens I selected for treating couples is structural family therapy (SFT). SFT uses "family mapping" to uncover and understand patterns of behavior and family interactions (Tadros, 2018). SFT works to improve relationship dynamics and boundaries within families to resolve conflict and address mental health problems (Jimnez, 2019). Its focus is on the structure of the family, including its various substructures (Tadros, 2018). SFT is an approach to therapy based on systems theory. Systems theory is a practice that enables professionals to look holistically at a client's conditions and environmental factors to gain a better understanding of why they face dilemmas (Jason, 2022). One challenge that may arise when using systems theory with SFT for couples is that it requires individuals to discuss openly their feelings in front of their family and everyone must cooperate, or it won't work (Landucci, 2014). One way to overcome this challenge is to establish agreed upon goals so the family unit will know what they are towards, so they all agree to cooperate.

Resources

Jason, L. A., & Bobak, T. (2022). Using Systems Theory to Improve Intervention Outcomes. Professional psychology, research and practice, 53(4), 415-422. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000467Links to an external site.

Jimnez, L., Hidalgo, V., Baena, S., Len, A., & Lorence, B. (2019). Effectiveness of StructuralStrategic Family Therapy in the Treatment of Adolescents with Mental Health Problems and Their Families. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(7), 1255. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16071255Links to an external site.

Landucci, J., & Foley, G. N. (2014). Couples Therapy: Treating Selected Personality-disordered Couples Within a Dynamic Therapy Framework. Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 11(3-4), 29-36.

Tadros, E., & Finney, N. (2018). Structural Family Therapy With Incarcerated Families: A Clinical Case Study. The Family Journal, 26(2), 253-261. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480718777409Links to an external site.

Colleague 2:

Theory Integration

Main. A theoretical orientation lens is essential for interaction with any client. After watching the video psychodynamic theory resonates with me. According to the theory multigenerational influence impact family dynamics (Gurman. et. al. 2015). Exploring the connection between client past and current mindset can reveal cognitive distortions. Including a genogram can also inform the client about expectations and gender roles overlooked (Gurman. et. al. 2015).

Explanation Challenge

A husband and a wife have been coming to therapy for a few weeks. The husband is the primary provider. The wife stay stays home with the children. The husband blames the wife for being lazy, and untimely. During session the husband is asked "why does he feel wife is lazy?"The husband claims "the dishes are not washed before he comes home. Dinner is still being prepared as he enters the driveway. The children homework is not complete." After his statement, the husband is asked "what type of shared responsibility did he observe growing up? The client is resistant to talk about his parents.

Explain Challenge

The best approach is to meet the client where they are. Focusing on the husband statement it is best to reflect, validate, empathize, and problem solve (Williams, 2012). Reflecting on the husband statement we can say" sounds like you come home hungry after a long day." Validating the husband concern models to the wife how to diffuse distress (Williams, 2012). Allowing the husband to express his grievance invites a canvas to problem solve (Farmer and Geller, 2005).

Reference

Gurman, A. S., Lebow, J. L., Snyder, D. K. (2015). Clinical handbook of couple therapy. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

Farmer, C., & Geller, M. (2005). The integration of psychodrama with Bowen's theories in couples therapy Links to an external site.. Journal of Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama and Sociometry, 58(2), 70-85.