Family Therapy Case Study Report: Theory, Application, and Analysis

This case study report examines structural family therapy through the lens of a complex family facing multiple challenges. It explores the history, theoretical concepts, and techniques of structural family therapy, including the role of the therapist in restructuring family dynamics. The report details the application of this approach to a case study involving a couple, Tony and Liz, their children, and extended family, highlighting the impact of blended families, divorce, and mental health issues such as depression. It also differentiates structural family therapy from other approaches, discusses its strengths and limitations, and provides a genogram to visually represent the family structure. The report analyzes the implementation of structural family therapy on populations with difficulties, supported by relevant literature, and includes references.

FAMILY THERAPY CASE STUDY
REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENT
1.History of Structural family therapy.........................................................................................1
2. Theory’s originator..................................................................................................................1
3. Importance of developing these ideas......................................................................................1
4.Theoretical concepts.................................................................................................................1
5. Differentiation of this approach from other schools of Family Therapy.................................1
6. Terms and concepts.................................................................................................................2
7. Process and practice of this approach......................................................................................2
8. Role of Family Therapist of this school doing differently......................................................2
9.Techniques of this approach.....................................................................................................3
10. Therapist’s role......................................................................................................................3
11.Application of this approach in terms of the Case Study Family...........................................3
12.Implementation of this approach on populations/difficulties.................................................4
13.Literature.................................................................................................................................4
14.Strengths and limitations of the approach..............................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

1.History of Structural family therapy
Structural family therapy is systems based theory and contains techniques, tools,
approaches etc. to understand the relational context. The prime focus is on enactment concept
and is based on solving problems to generate alternative responses to each interventions
(Colapinto, 2015). Its characteristic features include structural changes at the personal levels by
involving the therapist who actively participate and contribute in the re-structuring process to
maintain harmony and peace.
2. Theory’s originator
It was developed by Salvador Minuchin who was leading the Philadelphia Child
Guidance Clinic.
3. Importance of developing these ideas
It is important to make the necessary changes in family to convey proper interaction and
conducting negotiations among the members. Moreover, it aids in bringing constructive changes
to complete the interpersonal jobs and expectations. There were three interventions such as
challenging symptomatic behaviour, challenging family structure and lastly the family belief
system. Thus, in order to bring improvements in Liz's family, both her parents’ side and with her
new family where two young girls are struggling.
4.Theoretical concepts
This framework revolves around mainly three areas such as family, presenting problem
and the process of change. It directly connects with the homoeostasis of family dimensions and
inters relationships in following the transactional rules. For instance, when Tony and Liz got
married this year, they did not anticipate the list of issues that surrounded them. Tony's daughters
were suffering especially the eldest daughter Chiara (Sexton & Lebow, 2015). Alongside, Liz is
expecting her second child with Tony. She has also found that her mother, Jean is suffering from
depression because her dad, Frank started seeing the lady whom he was engaged before getting
married to Jean
5. Differentiation of this approach from other schools of Family Therapy
It is useful in addressing the problems on first hand basis where the family parameters are
described using three dimensional visual effects. Here the highlighted point is to understand the
dynamics of family members with each other and the overall impact including the substructures.
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For instance, when Liz and Tony contacted the therapist, his role is to bring inclusiveness and
effectiveness in terms of managing relationships.
6. Terms and concepts
This therapy is based on problem behaviour in terms of partial aspect of the family
structure (Colapinto & Lee, 2017). For instance, Francesca got along well with Liz initially,
however with passing time she was agitated to do all chores all by herself and started fighting
with Liz that Claudia doesn't do any work and she has to do all the chores single handed.
Another concept is therapeutic solution to the existing structural problems. This helps in
transactional patterns of the family dimensions and handle the relational stress that support in
resources utilization properly under a systematic framework. Here the following terms such as
therapist's role and hospitalization are important in facilitating the restructuring. The people with
problems must not be made isolated through hospitalization like Jean or Chiara and by taking
therapy sessions, they can resolve the conflicts and understand their own dilemmas, insecurities
and issues.
7. Process and practice of this approach
There are several processes and practices that are important in this approach. The major
practice includes an action based approach where the focus is on solving problems through
behavioural techniques. In addition to this, joining techniques and re framing supports in gaining
insights about the areas. It needs time and resources that uses information and in accordance
bring changes to maintain the family structure. Moreover, these processes are useful in
controlling the behavioural changes in people due to any factors. For e.g. this case study is based
on consulting the family therapist by the couple, Liz and Tony where the relationship counselling
agency was given a wide range of issues and difficulties that has put additional pressure on the
couple (McAdams & et.al., 2016). Thus, the therapist has found that they need proper
consultation sessions for longer duration to gain effective treatment plans using the structured
family therapy type.
8. Role of Family Therapist of this school doing differently
The family therapist here is playing crucial role in bringing modifications with positive
outcomes. Moreover, all the therapists contribute immensely in establishing the concrete changes
while listening to the grief, queries, dilemmas etc. at individual levels. In this context of family
therapy, the therapist seeks meta changes in overcoming the critical scenarios and bring
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improvisations. For e.g. when Tony and Liz contacted the therapist, their family background not
only demonstrated a mix match of cultural identities but also very difficult lifestyles. In addition,
their children were finding it difficult to cope up due to the new blend of relationships. Here
Tony's divorce affected his eldest daughter Chiara and strained their relationship whereas Liz
found it difficult to manage her pregnancy, her mother's Jean depression and had issues while
mingling with Tony's second daughter, Francesca and Chiara's intolerant behaviour. From above
scenario, a therapist of this type might not just listen but also help in giving strategic planning to
operate an intensive tune up. This step would pave the path of development through adopting a
natural healing time and put restrictions to become personal and be active.
9.Techniques of this approach
It consists of gaining knowledge about cultural perspectives and promoting the healthy
lifestyle and standardised instructions (Widmer, 2016). The therapist here plays the change
agent to maintain the socio political systems to make the modifications in systematic order.
Moreover, the techniques include coupling and interventions methods that helps in identifying
the resonance, context and flexibility in order to bring necessary changes at family restructuring.
10. Therapist’s role
A therapist role is crucial in this type of school family therapy. He considers finding out
the positioning and functionalities of all the issues and related consequences to understand the
behaviour of the family members. Moreover, the case study showed important contribution by
the therapist who is required to conduct restructuralization to manage the actions by being a
spectator at initial levels. He might get stereotyped in all the positions but he must be flexible in
connecting the links and understanding the challenges. This case study has shown the issues that
have surrounded the couple who are struggling with their kids and parents. Additionally, Liz is
expecting and is going through turmoil and must be given therapy sessions.
11.Application of this approach in terms of the Case Study Family
This Structural family therapy is useful in the case study to make the necessary changes
that underpinned the problems related to Liz and Tony. It is understandable that this therapy is
dependent on functional demands include boundaries, power hierarchies and coalitions and this
is possible through adopting subsystems via taking help from therapist. This professional plays
crucial role in linking the constraints, resources and using techniques in order to overcome the
ongoing conflicts and bring restructuring to this couple's family. Their backgrounds are also
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stark different and after the failure of first marriages, it highlighted their cultural differences plus
the urgency to maintain relations for better environment.
12.Implementation of this approach on populations/difficulties
This is the most useful approach on people suffering from any mental disorder or
psychological impact due to changes or difficulties in the family structure.
13.Literature
According to Diamond, Russon & Levy, (2016), it is important to know that this
structural family therapy is beneficial in terms of versatility and productiveness. This type is
supportive in gaining insights about structural outlines of a family and its related boundaries and
subsystems. It is one of the effective application of improving the knowledge about the cultural
expectations in sustaining the wellbeing of people. Whereas Bernal & Gómez-Arroyo, (2016),
stated that this is a risky option and might lead to more unbalancing. The unbalancing shed light
on the therapist's accountability that led to support of one of the conflicting discussions and later
bridge the gaps to establish effectual modes. There are many risks associated while using this
strategy since it depends on psychological attributes. Therefore, this therapy type is crucial in
understanding the individuals and their issues or difficulties which together formulate the family.
Moreover, it helps in enhancing the values, morals and principles based on the cultural aspect.
14.Strengths and limitations of the approach
Strengths- This helps in outlining the clear boundaries regarding each family member's
responsibility and role. Moreover, it directed towards the continuous changes in the family
dynamics.
Limitations- The focus is individual centric which sometimes leads to more conflicts and leads to
coordination issues in the family (You & Park, 2015). The changes made must be followed with
strict compliance and this also impacts the recuperation phase during the sessions with the
therapist.
GENOGRAM
This is the graphical representation for a family tree and includes about detailed data on
relationships among the individuals.
In this case context, Tony and Liz got married in 2019 after dating for two years. Tony is
45 years old who was married with two teenage daughters, Chiara and Francesca and later
divorced Catherine after 10 years. On the other hand, Liz is 30 years old woman who married for
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the first time with Liz and is six months pregnant after going through IVF treatment. She already
has a daughter Claudia. Additionally, she was not in talking terms with her dad, Frank for two
years before his death in 2018 and considers him the reason behind her mother's Jean depression.
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REFERENCES
Bernal, G., & Gómez-Arroyo, K. (2016). Family Therapy: Theory and Practice. Comprehensive
Textbook of Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice, 239.
Colapinto, J. (2015). Structural family therapy. In Handbook of family therapy (pp. 134-147).
Routledge.
Colapinto, J., & Lee, W. Y. (2017). Complementarity in Structural Family
Therapy. Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy, 1-3.
Diamond, G., Russon, J., & Levy, S. (2016). Attachment‐based family therapy: A review of the
empirical support. Family Process. 55(3). 595-610.
McAdams, C. R. & et.al., (2016). The viability of structural family therapy in the twenty-first
century: An analysis of key indicators. Contemporary Family Therapy. 38(3). 255-261.
Sexton, T. L., & Lebow, J. (Eds.). (2015). Handbook of family therapy. Routledge.
Widmer, E. D. (2016). Family configurations: A structural approach to family diversity.
Routledge.
You, S. E., & Park, B. J. (2015). The Effects of Family Sandplay Therapy with Structural Family
Therapy on the Family Strengths of Children with Emotional and Behavioral
Disorders. Journal of Korean Home Management Association. 33(4). 33-50.
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