By A family therapy program is a type of psychotherapy that deals with families and couples. The focus of family therapy is to monitor the changes and development of the interactions between family members or couples to improve the ways that people relate to one another. Overall, healthier, happier relationships are the goal of family therapy programs.
The length of time that family therapy sessions take largely depends on the extent of work that needs to be done to strengthen or repair relationships. In some cases, couples or families might only need five or six therapy sessions. In others, it might take as many as 20. This is a decision that patients and therapists make together as the treatment sessions progress.
In general, family therapy is considered to be a short-term treatment. Some of the typical problems that might be resolved during family therapy include school problems, eating disorders, problems adjusting to new locations or situations, and communication breakdowns.
The theories behind family therapy systems include the following:
- Differentiation
- Balance
- The Identified Patient
- Triangular Relationships
- Extended Family
Differentiation simply means that each family member should be allowed to maintain their own identities without feeling that they have to conform to the expectations of other people in the household. Balance refers to the stability and organization that a family tends to take on naturally over time. The natural family balance is likely to be resistant to change, so a qualified therapist can help family members embrace change rather than being sent into upheaval when one family member brings change into the home.
The identified patient is the particular family member who prompted the family as a whole to seek some assistance and guidance. This concept does not in any way attempt to label the identified patient as a problem person or instigator.
Triangular relationships refer to the fact that most families have at least three members that at some point become actively involved in any type of dispute. These involved family members can not only include immediate family members, but extended family members as well.
Of course, the extended family is the immediate household members plus grandparents, aunts, or uncles that may contribute to the family dynamic. When patients choose family therapy, they are committing themselves to a thoughtful process that will allow each family member to express themselves in a structured environment where everyone’s individual opinions are heard. Family therapy is grounded in the belief that individuals can actually be best understood when the entire family is evaluated in therapy.
The treatment period for family therapy can range from a few sessions to several years. The length of treatment that is necessary for a patient largely depends on the type of problem that was suffered, whether it is related to other events, the patient’s age, and the patient’s current inner strength and determination.
Many experts believe that family therapy can provide people with the tools they need to lead healthier, more productive lives because they will be better equipped to deal with unpleasant events and be ready to face any conflicts with grace.
