Different Approaches to Family Therapy
In modern society, where all is moving faster and faster from day to day, where almost all can be bought, there are still some intangible and free things of which people do care about and try to make better. Family as
a term represents a lot of concepts like a social unit as a form of co-existence among people, a uniting factor, a ground for a nation, etc. But for ordinary member of public, first and foremost, family reflects the warm
relationships among the most native and close people, an environment where they will always rely upon support, understanding, and inspiring words. Perhaps, to be honest, everyone can say that the family conflicts and
confusions make our life worthier more than any performance failings or life’s hardships. That is why the attention of many psychologists is paid to the issues concerning family relations, its theories, ways of resolving
conflicts, etc. This paper covers the theories of the three famous psychologists who strove at explaining the nature of relationships in families, its peculiarities, the reasons of conflicts, and ways of its solution. All of them introduced quite revolutionary ideas in the sphere of psychology and some of their techniques and methods are widely used in day-to-day practice, and that is why they are worth bearing in mind and using in everyday life making our life better.
Salvador Minuchin
Salvador Minuchin is considered to have made a great contribution in the field of family therapy. His theory about family structure, consisting of so-called subsets, was an innovation to the world of psychology as well as the whole theory of family therapy, which seems to be rather difficult for apprehension, yet consisting of some practical tips and recommendations how to act at the certain stage of restructuring healthy family relations.
The central concept of Minuchin’s theory is the representation of family as an only system and accordingly, if there are some conflicts or confusions in the family that means that the reasons and outcomes of such conflicts
are shared by all members and all is affected by them (Nichols & Schwarz). He also stressed on the communication patterns which are laid down by the first years of co-existence and by entering of new member as well as on the boundaries or rules which may be less or more restrictive and which govern the life of a family in general.
Salvador Minuchin introduced the concept of ‘transitional patterns’ which indeed regulated and determined the relations among family members while they live, interact with each other, and realize their intentions in
different life situations (Nichols & Schwarz). In order to clarify the concept S. Minuchin provides us with an example of young couple members who learn to co-exist with each other and, therefore, create the system of
communication and behavior patterns or usages (for example, when a wife leaves her husband in …
