Review article

Family and marital psychotherapy

Vlasta Štalekar ; Clinics for psychiatry, CHC Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

In the article a brief survey of the history of family therapy is given on the basis of
which the development of new concepts and therapy models is reviewed. The division of
family and marital therapies into a number of models is primarily of a didactic nature, since
in practice these models overlap and are to a considerable degree complementary. In this
article a systemic, dynamic, structural, strategic, transgenerational, experiential therapy is
mentioned. Each therapy model interprets family system dysfunctions in a unique manner.
Each of the therapy models interpret dysfunctions of a family system, however, the appropriateness
of different therapies in the context of acute and chronification of family problems
is discussed. Also, the paper emphasizes the importance of creating goals in family and
marital therapy (placing the symptoms in the context of family dynamics, homeostasis and
reflection of former to new relations, motivation to change the relations and not only to
deal with the symptom) regardless of the therapy model used. We explain0 the importance
of having the family create the goals and give the possible solutions in the therapy as well as
the importance of strengthening marital subsystem and natural allies, encouragement of a
more natural functioning of family subsystems (married couple, parents, children subsystems),
diminishing pathological forms of communication, supporting ”I” expressions, developing
capacities of empathy, understanding, acknowledgment and tolerance of differences,
defining the roles and rules, encouragement of the consistency, work on personal boundaries,
individuation and autonomy without a fear of family breaking apart as well as keeping
the consciousness of family togetherness. Also indications and genogram use are shown

Keywords

family therapy; genogram; history; indications; therapy directions

Hrčak ID:

59252

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/59252

Publication date:

13.9.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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