STRUCTURAL FAMILY THEORY David Potts

Origins and Social Context Salvador Minuchin Pediatric physician from Argentina Israeli Army Psychoanalytic practice New York State Wiltwyck School for Boys Work with delinquent boys Post WWII Theory applied to non-traditional inner city families Suitable for families with single parenthood, illness, acting-out members, drug addiction, crime, and violence

Salvador Minuchin

Pediatric physician from Argentina

Israeli Army

Psychoanalytic practice

New York State Wiltwyck School for Boys

Work with delinquent boys

Post WWII

Theory applied to non-traditional inner city families

Suitable for families with single parenthood, illness, acting-out members, drug addiction, crime, and violence

Origins and Social Context In common with cognitive and behavioral theories Complimentary to Family emotional systems theory Concrete interventions Structural functionalism Social institution

In common with cognitive and behavioral theories

Complimentary to Family emotional systems theory

Concrete interventions

Structural functionalism

Social institution

Major Concepts Subsystems Executive Authority Boundaries Rules Roles Triangles Flexibility Alliances Communication Other Concepts

Subsystems

Executive Authority

Boundaries

Rules

Roles

Triangles

Flexibility

Alliances

Communication

Other Concepts

The Nature of Problems And Change Power Imbalances Subsystem Boundaries too rigid or too diffuse Disengaged Members Enmeshed Members Pervasive Conflict Failure of the System to Realign Member Resistance Action Precedes Understanding

Power Imbalances

Subsystem Boundaries too rigid or too diffuse

Disengaged Members

Enmeshed Members

Pervasive Conflict

Failure of the System to Realign

Member Resistance

Action Precedes Understanding

Assessment And Interventions Social Worker / Client Relationship Assessment Intervention Repetition Supporting System Strengths Relabeling

Social Worker / Client Relationship

Assessment

Intervention

Repetition

Supporting System Strengths

Relabeling

Assessment and Interventions (cont.) Problem Tracking Teaching Stress Management Skills Discussion and Mutual Decision Making Manipulating Space Sculpting Communication Skills Training Role Plays Role Reversals Ending Structural Interventions

Problem Tracking

Teaching Stress Management Skills

Discussion and Mutual Decision Making

Manipulating Space

Sculpting

Communication Skills Training

Role Plays

Role Reversals

Ending Structural Interventions

Spirituality In Structural Family Theory Focused on organization rather than family life Theory does not explore belief systems Effects more important than content

Focused on organization rather than family life

Theory does not explore belief systems

Effects more important than content

Attention To Social Justice Issues Focus on change issues related to poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice Families not receptive to office based needs, weither for cultural reasons or because they do not have transportation resources Two tier: Primary focus on structure of family intervention and secondary focus family invited to participate in multiple family support group meetings

Focus on change issues related to poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice

Families not receptive to office based needs, weither for cultural reasons or because they do not have transportation resources

Two tier: Primary focus on structure of family intervention and secondary focus family invited to participate in multiple family support group meetings

Evidence in Effectiveness 10 year study Results vary Children with health issues Children with ADHD/Hyperactivity Disorder Substance Abuse Adolescents with behavior problems

10 year study

Results vary

Children with health issues

Children with ADHD/Hyperactivity Disorder

Substance Abuse

Adolescents with behavior problems

Criticisms Of The Theory De-emphasizes emotional lives Biases on appropriate family structure Cross Cultural considerations Avoiding Assumptions

De-emphasizes emotional lives

Biases on appropriate family structure

Cross Cultural considerations

Avoiding Assumptions

Conclusion Architecture of a given family considered Help families with multiple problems Used in case management Environmental interventions Used for over 40 years and continued today as society is rapidly changing

Architecture of a given family considered

Help families with multiple problems

Used in case management

Environmental interventions

Used for over 40 years and continued today as society is rapidly changing

References Walsh, J. (2006). Theories For Direct Social Work Practice. Thomson Brooks/Cole. Belmont, CA. http://www.minuchincenter.org . retrieved March 1, 2009.

Walsh, J. (2006). Theories For Direct Social Work Practice. Thomson Brooks/Cole. Belmont, CA.

http://www.minuchincenter.org . retrieved March 1, 2009.