Ereignisse, die die ganze Familie betreffen, wie Tod, Scheidung, Eheprobleme und psychische Probleme, führen oft zu angespannten Beziehungen zwischen Familienmitgliedern. Für Familien, die solche herausfordernden Zeiten durchmachen, die Stress, Wut oder Trauer verursachen, kann eine Familientherapie helfen, die Dinge zusammenzuhalten. Die familientherapeutischen Beratungsgespräche sollen dazu beitragen, dass die ganze Familie zusammenarbeitet und besser kommuniziert, um Konflikte zu lösen. Die Sitzungen werden von einer ausgebildeten Fachkraft geleitet, die verschiedene Methoden anwendet, um der Familie in der Therapie zu helfen. Wenn Sie mit Ihrer Familie eine schwierige Zeit durchmachen und etwas über Familientherapie lernen müssen, enthält dieser Artikel alles, was Sie wissen müssen.
Was ist Familientherapie?
Familientherapie ist eine Form der Psychotherapie, die darauf abzielt, Veränderungen einzuleiten, um angespannte Beziehungen zwischen Familienmitgliedern oder Paaren zu reparieren und Wachstum und Entwicklung durch den Prozess zu fördern. Der Therapeut, in der Regel ein Psychologe oder Sozialarbeiter mit Erfahrung in diesem Bereich, wirkt als Katalysator, um das Gespräch zu erleichtern und die angespannten Beziehungen zwischen Familienmitgliedern zu verbessern. Typischerweise benötigen Familien, die eine Therapie suchen, zwischen 5 und 20 Sitzungen, abhängig von ihren Umständen. Im Mittelpunkt der Therapie steht nicht die Anzahl der Personen, sondern die Perspektive und der analytische Rahmen. Familientherapie ist auch eine wirksame Methode zur Behandlung von zugrunde liegenden psychischen Gesundheitsproblemen von Personen, die möglicherweise aufgrund der betreffenden traumatischen Ereignisse aufgetreten sind oder nicht.
Warum ist eine Familientherapie erforderlich?
Familien, die durch belastende Ereignisse Schwierigkeiten haben, können von einer Familientherapie profitieren. Es kann mehrere Faktoren geben, die Familien belasten, wie Scheidung, finanzielle Not oder der Tod eines geliebten Menschen. Darüber hinaus können Personen, die an Depressionen, chronischen Krankheiten, Drogenmissbrauch oder Essstörungen leiden, Auswirkungen auf die gesamte Familie haben. Andere Probleme, die in den meisten Familien üblich sind, wie z. B. zwischenmenschliche Konflikte, Kommunikationsprobleme und Verhaltensprobleme bei Kindern, können ebenfalls schwerwiegendere Probleme für Familien verursachen.
Familientherapie kann in solchen Fällen sehr nützlich sein, um die Zusammenarbeit und das Verständnis zwischen den Familienmitgliedern zu fördern, um die Probleme als Gruppe zu lösen. Wenn ein Kind beispielsweise schulische und soziale Probleme hat, beinhaltet die Familientherapie das Entfernen von Faktoren, die von Seiten der Familie beitragen. Wenn sie das Problem besser verstehen, können sie zusammenarbeiten, um es zu lösen.
Arten der Familientherapie
Es gibt mehrere Beratungstechniken, die in der Familientherapie verwendet werden, darunter:
1. Strukturtherapie
Nach einer von Salvador Minuchin entwickelten Theorie basiert die strukturelle Familientherapie auf fünf spezifischen Prinzipien:
- Der Fokus des Strukturtherapeuten liegt nicht auf der individuellen Psyche, sondern auf Interaktionen zwischen Menschen.
- Persönliche Interaktionen innerhalb der Familie sind die Grundlage für die „Identitätsmatrix.“
- Familienstruktur basiert auf sozialen Interaktionen.
- Das Eingehen und Entwickeln der Bedürfnisse der gesamten Familie ist die Basis für eine „gut funktionierende Familie.“
- Familientherapeuten sorgen dafür, dass die Familie über ihre Zwänge hinauswächst und sich zu einer stärkeren Einheit entwickelt.
2. Strategische Therapie
Strategic family therapy uses techniques derived from several other psychotherapy practices. This therapy includes five phases – the problem stage, a brief social stage, an interactional stage, the goal-setting stage, and the task-setting stage.
3. Systemic Therapy
Systemic therapy has its roots in what is known as family systems therapy. There is a range of family systems therapy that has contributed to the existing concept of systemic therapy. The shift in the recent decades in systemic therapy has been from linear causality to an approach that considers the social and linguistically influenced reality.
4. Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy is centered on the individual and encourages them to view their problem individually and use their skill sets to navigate their issues. It also involves reducing the trivial day-to-day problems so they have fewer hardships and better clarity. The main idea behind the approach is that everybody has a personal narrative about their lives. They can use this personal story to figure out their place in the bigger picture and recognize their own capacity to solve problems in their lives. The therapy clarifies everything for the narrator and helps in developing support that guides their journey.
5. Transgenerational Therapy
Transgenerational therapy considers the broader perspective of the effect of problems that run through multiple generations of a family. The therapy involves observation of interactions between members of the family across many generations. The observations help the therapist to understand the main issues that affect the family groups. With the observation, the therapist can also predict potential future problems in the family group. Transgenerational therapy uses its concepts in tandem with other therapies that help understand the issues being addressed in sessions.
6. Communication Therapy
Therapy for communication problems between couples and families is common, especially when communication difficulties are explicitly stated. Communication difficulties can start for many reasons, including strained relationships, personality differences, cultural backgrounds, and personal experiences. The therapy addresses the problem in many different ways that suit the needs of the individuals. The therapist usually understands the individuals before recommending the communication mode. Some of the strategies involve mediated communication, opening lines of communication, and active listening.
7. Psychoeducation
Psychoeducation involves working with people with mental health conditions and their families to support and empower them through education. It is a practical tool against the stigmatization of mental health conditions and people who face those challenges daily. Psychoeducation has four broad goals:
- Information transfer to the families of the individual
- Support for medication and treatment
- Training for the individual for support and self-help
- An available safe space to vent
8. Relationship Counseling
Relations are complicated, and trivial problems in daily life can compound existing problems adding to the stress and strain the relationship further. Other problems that contribute to the stress include lack of communication, chronic illness, infidelity, mental health conditions, and cultural differences. There could also be other issues such as emotional distancing, lack of sexual intimacy, general lack of trust, and financial difficulties. Couples usually get to the point of relationship counseling when deciding whether to work out their differences or split and move on.
How Can Family Therapy Help?
Couples and family therapy have several benefits such as:
1. Improved Communication
Therapists work with families to initiate a communication channel and teach them effective techniques that do not lead to conflict.
2. Setting Healthy Boundaries
Individual members learn to set healthy boundaries, which we must respect to promote harmony in the family.
3. Better family dynamics and patterns
Families after therapy exhibit a better understanding of each other and show healthy relationship patterns.
4. Enhanced Problem Solving
Families learn to solve problems without blaming the other for them. They are also able to better work through challenges.
5. More compassion and empathy
Opening up long harbored feelings elicit feelings of compassion and empathy in the family members.
6. Improved Anger Management
Family members learn to control their tempers in stressful situations or during conflicts.
7. Reduced Conflict
Families learn to work with as little conflict as possible.
How To Find Right Therapist
Here is how you go about finding a therapist:
- Before you approach a therapist, it is advisable to do your homework online and pick from accredited organizations.
- Recommendations from friends or trusted individuals can also lead to better trust in the capabilities of the professional.
- Contact your health insurance company and ask for advice.
- Search for a therapist near you on the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Questions To Ask Your Therapist
There are four critical questions you need to ask the therapist:
- How would you treat my “XYZ” issue?
- What is your typical procedure to go about treating my specific issue? Would you first focus on the immediate problem or go for the more deep-rooted issue first?
- Do you lead the sessions, or do you allow the individuals to lead the way?
- What is my role in your therapy work?
- How long do the therapy sessions last?
- How many sessions would an average family need?
- How much do the sessions cost? Do I pay as I go or pay upfront?
Examples of Family Therapy Activities
These are some of the well-known family therapy activities:
- Miracle Question: Mainly devised to help the family understand one another, this question explores the goals regarding the family’s future.
- Colored Candy: This icebreaker question involves dividing a pack of colored candies among the family members. A question associated with each color is asked, and the members must give as many honest answers as the candies they are holding.
- Emotions Ball: Soft and multicolored balls, each representing an emotion, is passed between the family members. Every member should answer a time they recall they last felt that emotion concerning the family.
Family therapy is designed to get every member to open up their feelings and discuss things that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. These therapies are helpful for families struggling with a range of difficulties, ranging from divorce to financial hardships and substance abuse problems.
Lesen Sie auch:
Importance of Family Goals
How to Spend Time with Family
How to Handle Family Estrangement