Summary
One of the most often employed therapeutic modalities is the structural family theory. It maps out existing issues and identifies subsystems and boundaries in a family setting (Colapinto, 2019). To create a therapy plan that will be effective, it is essential to comprehend the family structure. Contrarily, in strategic family theory, the therapist takes the initiative to start the events that occur during the session, creates a unique solution for each issue, and directly affects each member (Szapocznik & Hervis, 2020). The idea’s fundamental tenets are defined by communication theory, which examines how individuals transmit information. Families that don’t work well together and have poor communication can be the cause. Depending on the severity of the presenting issue, brief strategic family therapy (BSFT) is a short-term paradigm that typically entails 12 to 17 weekly sessions. An average session lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. On the other hand, shifting the power relations inside the family takes a long and intense procedure like structural family therapy. Instead, strategic family counseling is a quick process that helps family members speak clearly and find practical solutions to challenges. It is used to achieve family goals when everyone in the family is working together to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Strategic family therapy is commonly used when a family member experiences certain psychological or physical problems that are thought to have their roots in a dysfunctional family structure. Because these two theories are frequently combined, this explanation focuses on how they connect to one another, how they differ, and how they are applied.
Concept of the family from the two articles
The family is the most critical social and communal structure. It serves as the cornerstone upon which interpersonal connections are built. Therefore, issues with family interactions have an impact on both people and communities as a whole. The two ideas aim to offer fixes for unhappy marriages at the family level. Therapists are aware that dysfunctional family interactions can have a negative impact on people’s life. Typically, a series of conflicts and unsuccessful contacts is charted. Both theories address individual requirements following the presented issue. To structure and comprehend the family, structural family therapy makes use of a variety of ideas. Structure, components, boundaries, enmeshment, dissociation, power, alignment, and coalition are particularly crucial.
Assessment
In order for the therapist to pinpoint the underlying problems in the family, assessment is essential throughout therapy. Both theories aim to comprehend the fundamental structure of a family. Every family member recognizes and acknowledges functional families’ clear and explicit forms (Colapinto, 2019). The therapist will try to comprehend the general structure of dysfunctional families. He learns about the boundaries and subsystems that influence interpersonal relationships through this. Definition of the root problems is done while admitting tried solutions. Possible interventions are drawn after the mapping process, and the patient is given implementation advice. The theories offer a thorough plan and actions to be performed when family troubles are discovered. Hasty assessments can result in treatment strategies and solutions that are ineffective. Therefore, it is impossible to overstate the significance of this stage in any theory.
Basic Tenets
The theories primarily rest on an examination and comprehension of family systems. As a result, they are implemented according to some fundamental principles. They both mainly employ structure to map the circumstances of a given family. Structural treatment further defines subsystems as distinct family members that are a part of a larger context but are nonetheless reliant on one another (Colapinto, 2019). In order to create a treatment plan, boundaries that serve as obstacles to productive interactions are specified. The phases of a treatment session are the essential foundations of strategic therapy. These include identifying problems, establishing goals, offering a solution, getting client input, and assessing the overall results after the treatment session (Szapocznik & Hervis, 2020). Every family has a structure, one of structural family therapy’s most crucial ideas. This expression alludes to the structure of a family. The terni structure is used by Colapiton (2019) to show that families have behavioral tendencies, which he characterizes as conservative but flexible. Clear divisions between the system and its components define a healthy family structure. Changing a dysfunctional structure entails focusing therapy on improving the family’s current organizational structure. Treatment aims to make the family structure more adaptable. The fundamental tenet of strategic family therapy is that a child’s symptoms are heavily influenced by how the family engages and functions. This treatment lessens the factors that lead to behavior disorders and helps shield youngsters from potential future difficulties by altering how the family functions.
Similar Techniques
Comparatively, the two approaches emphasize encouraging behavioral modification, enhancing communication, and removing problematic connections within the family network. As a result, both models’ primary goal is to abolish harmful behavior that affects a person and their families. Additionally, Szapocznik & Hervis (2020) note that both models genuinely alter the family structure while using various strategies to keep the proper family balance. Although there may be parallels between the models, it has been stated that the family therapist should choose their preferred model to diagnose and address the issue. It was found that both strategies were successful in managing behavioral problems among young people. The restoration of healthy family ties is the shared goal of both ideologies. The method used will determine how they are applied and used. To uncover underlying difficulties, the enactment approach in structural therapy recreates interactions between family members throughout sessions (Colapinto, 2019). Communication amongst those receiving treatment is crucial. The communication theory describes how information or messages are passed between two persons. Notably, the cornerstone of strategic therapy is built on the communication theory. During treatment, both approaches make use of paradox. Reverse psychology served as the basis for the paradoxical injunction, which is utilized to induce a specific response from a client. The goal is to get patients to respond positively by exploiting their concerns. As a result, the strategies used and the targeted purpose in both theories are comparable.
Key Differences and weakness
The primary distinction between the two models is the method used to encourage a change in the family structure. According to Szapocznik & Hervis (2020), the goal of structural family planning is to alter the dysfunctional family structure. The approach has drawn criticism for ignoring the fundamental family structure in nuclear households, though. On the other hand, strategic family planning has been criticized as being restrictive and limiting the independence of the families engaged because it focuses on a relational approach to achieving a family transition.
Conclusion
To map out family dynamics, comprehend issues, and create treatment plans, therapists use both structural and strategic therapy. The restoration of effective family interactions is the shared goal of the two theories. As the foundation for forming or destroying relationships, communication is a fundamental driver. The use of enactment in structural therapy to find underlying issues in a family is enhanced by effective communication. Similar to this, communication theory serves as the foundation for strategic treatment. It is clear from the discussion above that both systems have many things in common.
References
Colapinto, J. (2019). Structural family therapy. Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy, 2820-2828.
Szapocznik, J., & Hervis, O. E. (2020). Brief strategic family therapy. American Psychological Association.
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