Family Therapy Theories Comparison Worksheet - CNL-500

This assignment, completed for CNL-500, compares three therapeutic approaches: Bowenian, Strategic, and Structural family systems theories, along with an individual counseling theory. The student begins by creating a hypothetical family scenario, detailing a family of six seeking counseling due to issues stemming from business setbacks, parental neglect, and resulting behavioral problems in a child, Jenny. The assignment then delves into a comparative analysis of the chosen theories. The comparison is structured using a chart, which includes the roles of the counselor and client, descriptions of dysfunction, processes of change, treatment interventions, ethical considerations, and how each theory helps the family establish a new homeostasis. Each section within the chart requires a 50-75 word description, and the student includes a minimum of six scholarly resources, in addition to the course textbook, with appropriate in-text citations and full APA references. The assignment demonstrates an understanding of the core tenets and practical applications of each theory in addressing family issues.

CNL-500 Topic 6: Comparison Worksheet
Directions: Choose two family systems theories (Bowenian, Structural, Strategic, or Satir) and one individual counseling theory
studied in this course (any theory studied in topics 1-5) and compare the three theories.
Part 1: Create a hypothetical family. Develop a scenario that has caused this family to seek counseling. The scenario should be 150-
250 words in length. Be sure to include the following in the scenario: 1) Identify the members of the family; 2) The problem/focus of
therapy; 3) Family rules which enabled the problem to continue; and 4) rationale for who the identified patient (IP) is.
Family Scenario:
It is a family of six members. The parents aging 50 year old mother, named Mary and father 65 Marcus and their children and grand
children. His own son Methew is 45 years old and his wife Fanny is 40 years old. They have two children one is Roger and he is 3
years old boy where as Jenny is 12 years old girl. The scenario that has brought the family to the psychological counseling.
The Son of Marcus was an import export businessmen when he married. But after his first child Jenny they faced loss in the business
and the business got sold off. This caused the family to invest in new business and the fund of the family got limited causing stress.
Jenny was only 3 years old So Methew thought of involving his wife fanny in the business and outdoor trips for business purpose.
This lead Jenny to stay with her grandparents for longer period of time. In this course of time Jenny became lonely and shy. She kept
waiting for her parents for days and when her parents come back she use to light up again. Now her mother and father started to give
very less time to her as they were very busy, they stayed only month a month with her in one year and this continued for almost 7
Years until jenny became 10 and she got her brother. In this period of time jenny became rude, monotonous, moody and stubborn.
Now when the family is well to do they don’t have peace in family and the grandparent of the family is blaming her parents for the
disturbance in the life of jenny. When they were not able to care about jenny they should have not done another baby as this has
caused her to feel lonely and unwanted. The love that her brother got was never given to her, which made her a jealous person. She
creates ruckus out of nowhere and tries to spoil any good moment in the family. She does not pay attention in the class and also fights
with other children in school. Her parents are helpless she is not ready to talk to her mother and father at all.
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Part 2: Complete the specific fields listed in the chart for each theory chosen. All sections will require a 50-75-word description
except for the section where you list the three treatment interventions. Include a minimum of six scholarly resources in addition to the
course textbook and in-text citation as appropriate. Include a full APA reference for the resources used below.
Multi-Person Family Therapy
(a session including more than
one family member present)
Single Person Family Systems
Approach
(a session using a family systems
theory with only one person
present)
Individual Counseling Theory
(any theory of your choice from
weeks 1-5)
Theory
< Bowenian Theory> < Strategic Theory >
< The theory of the person and
development of the individual-
Structural theory>
Roles of the
Counselor and
Client(s) (50-75
words each)
The counselor will try to find
the emotional interdependence
in the family that has created
cohesiveness families require to
protect their members. At any
point heightened tension, can
disturb this process ultimately
affecting unity and teamwork,
and this can lead to problems so
they open up. The counselor
shall talk to the family member
individually or make an
emotional triangle to get to the
root of the problem (Barth &
Moody, 2019).. The counselor
will involve three member so
the family at a time to council.
This will control the anxiety
level in the family. They will
Strategic therapy is a theory that has
developed from combined method of
psychotherapy practices (Beyers,
Phipps, & Vorster, 2017). The
counselor will define the method to
the client and follow the five step
process which are - a brief social
stage, the problem stage, interactional
stage, the goal-setting stage and the
task-setting stage. The counselor tries
to know the communication or
problem-solving patterns by
evaluating individual in the family.
The counselor reframes or redefining a
problem scenario or using paradoxical
interventions in order to create the
desired change (Colapinto, 2015). The
client experience the change rapidly,
without intensive analysis of the
The counselor can approach the
individual in this technique with a
therapeutic technique. The councilor
will challenge the family about its
problem to be correct specially. The
counselor shall talk one by one
individually to figure out why a
particular scenario is prevailing for so
long in the family. A one point he will
ask the family to restructure by
alternating the relationships. The
therapist will teach the family about
the complementary role of everyone.
By changing the view and focus the
therapist may achieve the intensity.
The client gets the opportunity to
express their thoughts and feelings
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Multi-Person Family Therapy
(a session including more than
one family member present)
Single Person Family Systems
Approach
(a session using a family systems
theory with only one person
present)
Individual Counseling Theory
(any theory of your choice from
weeks 1-5)
give true reply to support the
reason.
The client will cope in the
counseling. They have to follow
the instructions so that the
session can happen peacefully.
They will be telling the
reactions of individual family
members (Murdock, Theories of
Counseling and Psychotherapy,
2019)
source of the problem. They have to
be attentive and participate truly in the
sessions.
about how they are affected.
Individual explores their role in the
family and learns to switch the roles.
The theory focuses on the balance
between two forces (Murdock,
Theories of Counseling and
Psychotherapy, 2019).
Describe the state
of dysfunction
How would you
describe the
problem from each
theoretical
orientation? (50-75
words each)
The problem may be in any
level of generation in the family
(Murdock, Theories of
Counseling and Psychotherapy,
2019). The dysfunctions can be
singular or multiple. It can be in
one person or may in two or
three people (Negash &
Morgan, 2016). The problem
can also be in some kind of
particular theory that the family
has been following since ages.
The dysfunction will be that the
individually each family members
may start to blame each other
(Murdock, Theories of Counseling and
Psychotherapy, 2019). The individual
session lends an opportunity to speak
up the mind. The counselor frees the
person by making them analysis their
own problems by themselves (Shoup
& Baranovich, 2019).
The best theory its only about the
individual person. What they feel, why
they feel and because of what they feel
distresses, depressed or disassociate.
The two method are used by the
counselor to analysis the dysfunctions
of the individuals. The person may be
feeling depressed, hollowed, unhappy
or angry due to personal, family or any
third party reason (Murdock, Theories
of Counseling and Psychotherapy,
2019).
Process of Change
How is change
According to Green & Dorr,
2016, to analysis if the
As per Szapocznik et al. 2016, in this
the person is represents the smallest
The therapy interest in the pattern of
the hierarchy. To teach how to
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Multi-Person Family Therapy
(a session including more than
one family member present)
Single Person Family Systems
Approach
(a session using a family systems
theory with only one person
present)
Individual Counseling Theory
(any theory of your choice from
weeks 1-5)
accomplished? (50-
75 words each)
potentially leading any traits
passed on through generations.
The counsel needs to find what
has shaped the mind of the
patient to be like this. By
continuous counseling he will
be able to break this pattern,
then they achieve relief from
their symptoms of low
differentiation (Greene, 2017).
In this process they are able to
eliminate the problem forever.
stable network of human relationship
systems. The person may seem to be
stable but in another minute may
become unstable as anxiety is
introduced. Someone with low level of
differentiation may feel emotional
fusion, experience what the group
feels, due to insufficient interpersonal
boundaries between members of the
family (Greene, 2017).
communicate in more complex way in
the family. The family is taught to
learn to deal with individuals in every
role they have enacted. The therapist
teaches the individuals to formulate a
problem that is solvable. Everyone has
a chance to show the problem from
their perspective to other in the family
(Murdock, Theories of Counseling and
Psychotherapy, 2019)..
List 3 Treatment
Interventions
Intervention 1: The family
members to be analsysied by
verbally but also to look for
certain habits.
Intervention 2: Giving every
individual excess time
expanding to months to
understand where the problem
has started.
Intervention 3: The best method
is to role play and practice the
Intervention 1: Test if the situation is
not just due to anxiety or over
excitement. By asking a certain set of
questions.
Intervention 2: To determine if fear is
the reason for an unconditional
behavior.
Intervention 3: To break the
malpractice habits that has caused the
present situation. By listening to the
Intervention 1: To check if the
condition is faulty due to anxiety. To
make the patient answer a set of
questions.
Intervention 2: Apply the conditioning
procedure to alter any behavior
pattern.
Intervention 3: To break the
malpractice habits that has cause the
present situation. By listening to the
© 2019. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

Multi-Person Family Therapy
(a session including more than
one family member present)
Single Person Family Systems
Approach
(a session using a family systems
theory with only one person
present)
Individual Counseling Theory
(any theory of your choice from
weeks 1-5)
same situation and different
outcomes in each role plays.
person thoroughly. person thoroughly.
Important Ethical
Considerations (50-
75 words each)
As per Bachem 2018, the
session progresses the counselor
tries to deviates the whole
attention to the problem. While
doing so the counselor makes
sure that the family member is
addressing themselves and not
each other. They are becoming
conscious of their own deeds.
The counselor tries to identify
other mental disease without
disturbing the patients
conscious. The counselor
should be licensed and
experienced holding the degree
in the said field(Murdock,
Theories of Counseling and
Psychotherapy, 2019).
The counselor should be open with the
client. He should not have any kind of
relationship with the client that can
impair their practice. The questions
asked should be ethical and not at all
vulgar or depressive (Murdock,
Theories of Counseling and
Psychotherapy, 2019). This may lead
to disruptive session. The client may
not feel happy sitting with you or he
may feel offend (Horigian et al, 2015).
According to Goodyear 2018, the
individual counseling is a very
sensible session. The counselor is
handling the person alone and this has
to be done by some authenticated
experienced counselor. There can be
chances that at some point the clients
breaks down or starts to behave
differently(Murdock, Theories of
Counseling and Psychotherapy,
2019) . The counselor has to be
equipped enough to handle the
situation. the consular should maintain
the rule of privacy at all sessions in all
kind of theory and for all individuals.
How would this
theory help the
family in your
scenario establish a
new homeostasis?
The theory and the therapy have
been practiced over several
years. This theory may be
wonderful to some extent. It
will open the eyes of the
Here the problem may not be
analsysied properly. They family may
start blame game without accepting
the mistake. The information shared
may be incomplete. To only some
This way the parents may be able to
take the session one by one and realize
the mistakes that they have done. They
may be able to open up about their
own conceptions also. Why they did
© 2019. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

Multi-Person Family Therapy
(a session including more than
one family member present)
Single Person Family Systems
Approach
(a session using a family systems
theory with only one person
present)
Individual Counseling Theory
(any theory of your choice from
weeks 1-5)
(50-75 words each)
parents. They have done
mistake by ignoring a young
child at the very tender age. So
by talking and following the
steps the problem will be clear
for her behavior. This will
change the situation in the house
and attention towards her will
start by her parents.
extent this theory may be good. this what made them think like this.
Being alone will create a comfortable
scene. By changing the role the person
may understand why this has
happened and what has led the family
to take such steps in her early years.
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References
Bachem, R., Levin, Y., Zhou, X., Zerach, G., & Solomon, Z. (2018). The Role of Parental Posttraumatic Stress, Marital Adjustment,
and Dyadic Self‐Disclosure in Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma: A Family System Approach. Journal of marital and
family therapy, 44(3), 543-555.
Barth, A. L., & Moody, S. J. (2019). Theory use in counseling practice: Current trends. International Journal for the Advancement of
Counselling, 41(3), 313-328.
Beyers, L., Phipps, W. D., & Vorster, C. (2017). An introduction to teddy bear therapy: A systems family therapy approach to child
psychotherapy. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 28(4), 317-332.
Colapinto, J. (2015). Structural family therapy. In Handbook of family therapy (pp. 134-147). Routledge.
Goodyear, M., McDonald, M., von Doussa, H., Cuff, R., & Dunlop, B. (2018). Meeting the intergenerational needs of families where
a parent has a mental illness. Journal of Parent and Family Mental Health, 3(2), 1.
Green, S. L., & Dorr, N. (2016). Changing Attitudes Toward Older Adults Through a Simulated Aging Exercise: Implications for
Family Therapy. Women & Therapy, 39(1-2), 69-85.
Greene, R. R. (2017). General systems theory. In Human behavior theory and social work practice (pp. 165-198). Routledge.
Horigian, V. E., Feaster, D. J., Brincks, A., Robbins, M. S., Perez, M. A., & Szapocznik, J. (2015). The effects of Brief Strategic
Family Therapy (BSFT) on parent substance use and the association between parent and adolescent substance use. Addictive
behaviors, 42, 44-50.
Kim-Appel, D., & Appel, J. K. (2015). Bowenian family systems theory: Approaches and applications. Foundations of couples,
marriage, and family counseling, 185-213.
Lappin, J. (2018). Intensity in Structural Family Therapy.
Murdock, Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy (2019). Murdock, Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Case
Approach, 4th Edition | Pearson. [online] Pearson.com. Available at:
https://www.pearson.com/us/higher-education/program/Murdock-Theories-of-Counseling-and-Psychotherapy-A-Case-
© 2019. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

Approach-with-My-Lab-Counseling-with-Pearson-e-Text-Access-Card-Package-4th-Edition/PGM1811840.html [Accessed 7
Oct. 2019].
Negash, S., & Morgan, M. L. (2016). A family affair: Examining the impact of parental infidelity on children using a structural family
therapy framework. Contemporary Family Therapy, 38(2), 198-209.
Shoup, R., & Baranovich, D. L. (2019). Addiction Rehabilitation and Structural Family Therapy. Indian Journal of Public Health
Research & Development, 10(4), 1411-1415.
Szapocznik, J., Duff, J. H., Schwartz, S. J., Muir, J. A., & Brown, C. H. (2016). Brief strategic family therapy treatment for behavior
problem youth. Handbook of family therapy, 286-304.
© 2019. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.