Communicational and Systems Approaches to Family
Therapy
Structural Family Therapy (SFT)
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Introduction
Founded by Salvador Minuchin, child psychiatrist, born and raised in Argentina
•Family Systems Theory assumes that a family is understood best by examining the family as
one whole system.
•Types of family: Nuclear, Single-parent, Extended, Childless, Step families, Grand parent
families. Communication varies based on…..
•Structure offers children a sense of security and control in a world full of uncertainty, helps
create healthy habits that last into adulthood, build healthy family relationships
•SFT addresses patterns of interaction that create problems within families
•Mental health issues are viewed as signs of a dysfunctional family structure
•The focus of treatment is on changing the family structure rather than changing individual
family members.
•Minuchin argues that pathology rests not in the individual, but within the family system. Thus,
SFT:
addresses problems in functioning within a family
therapists strive to "join" the family system in therapy in order to understand the invisible rules
which govern its functioning
therapists map the relationships b/n family members or b/n subsets of the family
therapists ultimately disrupt/change dysfunctional relationships within the family 2
Foundation and Underlying Assumptions
The primary assumption and foundation of SFT is to identify family structure and the
subsystems that are formed through the level of authority and boundaries.
Subsystems are subgroupings within the family based on age, gender and function:
Parenting (child rearing), spousal, Sibling)
Subsystems develop boundaries that begin to evolve patterns for communication and
everyday interaction - interactions b/n individuals, with assigned roles and
expectations.
Subsystems establish rules that will begin to recognize how that interaction will
manifest into redundant patterns of communication. Members of the family begin to
take on specific roles.
The main objective SFT is to understand how members of a family structure can learn
to solve problems with a greater understanding of interaction
Important rules for a therapist to study include coalitions, boundaries, and power
hierarchies between subsystems
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Theoretical concept
1. “BOUNDARY” is the structure of the family, including its various substructures (siblings,
spouse, etc.). It is the foundational theoretical concept in SFT
•SFT direct toward changing the family organizational structure, emphasizes the establishment of
BOUNDARIES within the family.
•To find balance between family and individual is to define and clarify the boundaries between
the subsystems. Boundaries are invisible barriers that regulate contact between members
•Boundary types:
Enmeshed families (families whose members are excessively intrusive, weak, too open)
Disengaged families (families whose members are excessively unavailable, rigid /closed) to
one another
Normal families (stimulating)
•Boundaries determine which roles individuals and family subsystems (e.g. children or parents)
play, expectations of each party, and responsibilities of family members
•3 key concepts of SFT: Family rules, patterns of behavior, and family structure/ hierarchies
Theoretical concept cont’d
Boundaries are reciprocal
– This means that a weak boundary (enmeshment) in one relationship means that the same
person is disengaged from someone else.
E.g.,1. Wife who is enmeshed with child, disengaged from husband (In SFT there is a
syndrome with enmeshed mother and disengaged father)
2. Father who is enmeshed (Intrusive, very close) with older son who hunts with
him, disengaged with daughter who is quietly depressed.
•Family system must be stable enough to ensure continuity, and flexible enough to
accommodate to changed circumstances
•The boundaries should be flexible enough to allow external interaction, but strong enough to
show rules and principles
•Enmeshment comes at the expense of personal freedom, which is abnormal
•Disengagement (rigid, closed) – have no emotional attachment but have benefit of self
autonomy
•Disengaged family avoid conflict, less in contact
•Enmeshed family avoid conflict by denied differences 5
Theoretical concept cont’d
2. Hierarchy
– The hierarchy refers to the structure in which the parents possess greater power and
authority than do their children.
– Hierarchy is an organized pattern in which families interact, not deterministic or
prescriptive, only descriptive (expressive)
– Within a family hierarchy, there are 3 distinct subsystems that require appropriate
boundaries: spousal, parental, and sibling
– Can only be seen when a family is in action, b/c verbal descriptions rarely convey the
true structure.
- Structural problems are usually viewed simply as failure to adjust to changes
Power and hierarchy:
• Appropriate persons to have power in families are the parents.
• The person with the most power makes all of the final decisions and takes responsibility
for the outcome of the family dynamics.
• Example: when a father tells his child not to play video games, the child obeys b/c the
father has consistently shown the child that he expects compliance in his child.
•This interaction defines the r/p b/n them as well as creates the appropriate hierarchy.
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Goal of Structural Family therapy
• SFT assume family problem occur by dysfunctional & disorganized structural family
• The goal is to maintain a certain hierarchy and boundaries to remain healthy Or,
• To bring structural change or bring order and meaning to family interactions and
providing recognition of the overall organization that supports and maintains the family
interactions (Colapento, 2011) Or,
• To help improve communication and the way family members interact with each in order to
then create healthy communication, appropriate boundaries, and eventually healthier family
structure.
Goal achieved when:
Therapy is directed at altering family structure and empower dysfunctional family to move
towards functional family communications.
Through the creation of (1) effective hierarchy, and (2) executive subsystem…parenting,
spousal, sibling
Boundaries must be strengthened in enmeshed r/ps, and weakened in disengaged ones.
Therapist’s Role
• Maps /plots/ the family’s underlying structure (boundaries, hierarchy, subsystems)
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• Intervenes to transform the structure
Therapeutic Interventions (techniques)
SFT techniques are present-oriented, focusing on the current problems and addressing them
The SFT is often seen as a way to treat the individual by treating the underlying cause of their
troubling behavior; and by focusing on interactions b/n family members
1. Mapping underlying structure: After observing how the family interacts, the therapist will
draw a chart or map of the family's structure.
• The chart helps identify the Family rules, Patterns of behavior, family hierarchies,
boundaries, and subsystems relationships within the family unit such as the relationship
between parents or between one parent and one particular child.
– Family structure manifest members interaction
– By asking everyone for a description of the problem, the therapist increases the chances
for observing and restructuring family dynamics.
2. Restructuring
– reframe family structure
– Set boundary
– Use power to bring about change (not giving up)
3. Homework
– To increase contact between disengaged parties,
– To reinforce boundaries between individuals and subsystems that have been enmeshed
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Example
After observing the family’s interactions, a therapist will develop a hypothesis
that the mother and her teenage son are enmeshed and the father is disengaged.
The interventions will be modifying the family structure by helping the couple
get emotionally closer to each other
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