SOLUTION-FOCUSED AND STRUCTURAL APPROACHES
Introduction of the Paper
Family therapy belongs to one of the most comprehensive fields of knowledge, as professional therapist is to be aware of thousands of nuances of human life in order to manage every situation, which is possible to arise. As every human is individual, then every family is unique, hence, there is no universal approach to problem family.
It is obvious, theoretical doctrine has accumulated general principles, which have been used for generations. Simultaneously, each family case is extremely sophisticated, with hundreds of hidden influences, secrets and weird aspects, which transform it into exceptional incident that demands extraordinary professional dedication.
Furthermore, theoretical basis in the field of family therapy is not plain and single-leveled. Actually, there are many theoretical and practical directions, which do function rather efficiently. Namely, both science and practice of therapy distinguish e.g. behavioral therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, multidimensional therapy, network therapy, structural family therapy etc.
No doubt, each of this kinds has own unique prerequisites to be applied. In other words, there may be some features of typical situations, which can be resolved with the tools of a particular method. If therapist observes some common disruptions, it is recommended to apply such a method, which has been used in similar cases earlier.
Nevertheless, it is obvious, “pure”, or 100% typical situations are impossible to take place in real life, as any stereotypical situation is necessarily complicated with slightest details, which irretrievably change the core of the case, hence, applied recommended method occurs to be unworkable. In fact, it means that any sole method cannot manage the family situation as efficiently as possible.
Brief Case Background
Let us consider the actual case and determine necessary family therapy approaches, which are the best to be integrated in its perfect solution. To begin with, the core problem is linked with adolescent Sam, who has poor academic performance. In addition, the general family situation is rather tensional and constrained as well – Liz and Jack (Sam’s parents) do not smooth sharp relational angles at all, their relationships lack warm and tenderness.
All of them are natives of Hong Kong, who rarely leave this place even for a short vacation. Liz works as a bank manager, whereas Jack spends working days at a garment company in the position of manager as well.
Their situation cannot be recognized as a catastrophe, thousands of families do live in the worse mental environment. However, some tension can be easily recognized. Namely, Sam’s strong undesirability to proper studying, which is explained by parents with his strong laziness. Moreover, Sam’s behavior became very strange: he either conducted himself rather close and offish, or behaved in very brutal, rude and ill-mannered way. Such change is difficult to be explained, as Sam used to be rather successful academically, polite, curious and delicate boy.
Furthermore, Liz and Jack now are common for flashes of irritability, in which they hide from real solutions. This couple has demanded they never have been rather patient and restrained, but they endeavoured to play at least such roles during Sam’s childhood. Now they do not feel restrained with any word taboos, so their conversations get more offensive character, e.g. they blame each other for son’s misbehavior, career faults and other insults of private character.
Integration of SFBT and Structural Approach
Firstly, such direction as structural family therapy is comprehensive enough in order to be effectively applied in the case of Sam and his parents.
This very approach distinguishes such notions as functional families (healthy, able to cope with own issues with own strengths) and dysfunctional ones (deserve professional attention of family therapist). In fact, structural family therapy views family dysfunction as a consequence of family structure, which is revealed only when the family is in action (Thompson, 2015, p. 264).
In our case, this method will give an irreplaceable opportunity for a family therapist to get acquainted with the hidden world of family. It will become possible due conversation sessions, other verbal methods, which will open the way towards understanding the internal structure of the particular family unit.
In our case, the rapist would organize so-called sessions with Liz, Jack and Sam, during which first questionings are to take place. These and next conversations with the whole family as well as with particular members will allow the therapist performing the most crucial part of his work – create a structural diagnosis.
Actually, this very approach is extremely important to be used in Sam’s family in order to verify assumptions, made due to structural method as well as to define directions for common developing for three of them as a loving family.
Under structural family therapy, families experience changes as they progress through the family life cycle, therefore, to remain happy, healthy and functional, the family needs to adjust its structure and norms of interactions to adapt to these naturally occurring changes (Segrin & Flora, 2011, p. 385).
In our case, the couple did not manage to be attentive enough to one another, when external reason – young age of the son – disappeared; they did not make any efforts to make the home atmosphere sweet and warm. They could not adjust to those changes, making their interactions rather alien and rude.
Sam’s behavior did not differ with great amount of patience as well. He surrendered the first wind, which took place in his life and changed his behavior as severely as possible. The therapist is unlikely to make such deep conclusions, integrating both methods, whereas which of them demands great time spending.
What inspires in solution-focused approach, is its cheerful and jocund philosophy. In particular, it is a non-pathological approach, which focuses on positive and healthy aspects of living rather than problems or illnesses, putting primary value on client’s strengths, resources and abilities rather than deficits and disabilities (Kim, 2006, p. 15).
Concerning central element of solution-focused approach – “miracle question” – it is necessary to clarify its main essence. Briefly speaking, the therapist tells either family or individual client that miracle has happened and problem, because of which he/they has/have to visit therapist has magically resolved. As miracle has taken place at night and client has not had the ability to observe it, the therapist encourages client to explain, which features will prompt him/them that everything is perfect now.
Such “miracle question” is useful to develop well-formed goals with clients by helping them to elicit what they might want to be different when the problem is solved as well as to explore and cognitively rehearse imagined attitudinal and behavioral differences in themselves and others (Kim, 2006, p. 17).
It is anticipated that Sam’s answer will be linked with the appeasement of atmosphere at home; as such situation is obviously the main reason for his bellicose behavior. In addition, it is likely, an adolescent will express some hopes concerning the discontinuation of constant talks about his poor academic performance. Frankly speaking, he does eager to be successful in studying, however, the offensive character of “kitchen talks”, constant arguments between the closest people make him be less persistent than he could be.
Concerning Jack and Lizzy, their “miracle answers” would be almost the same, as both of them dream about home peacefully and bright son’s future. What can be found out during working with this very tool, their excessive attention towards Sam’s school marks is explained with their hidden dissatisfaction with own work. Furthermore, both Liz and Jack are possible to answer that after a “miracle” they lead happy life in another country.
Such methodology, in necessary integration with structural therapy, will be efficient for a couple of Liz and Jack, who lost their taste and desire for life, as well as for their son, whose young spirit should be alive for calls of beautiful life.
Strengths of the Integration
Indeed, a combination is often the best approach as no single model has all the answers or applies in every situation (O'Connell, 2003, p. 52). The truth is rather simple: multiplication of attempts gives more chances to reach the desirable result. Sometimes, even experienced therapist may find himself or herself in the captivity of mistaken ideas, whereas the applying of combined approach allows its successful averting.
The strengths of integration are rather obvious: due to the expanding of the number of approaches, with which the therapy of particular therapy is performed, the horizons of research are widening as well. In addition, frequently some approaches, suitable for a particular member of a family, turn out to be unworkable for the other ones, whereas the integration of approaches allows simultaneous applying of effective methods towards all family members. It is high time to determine two family therapy approaches, which will be the most suitable for combining, which will allow resolving this situation as soon as possible.
In other words, family therapist has uneasy task – to be integrated into the analyzed family and to define its hierarchical structure, role division, taking into account the individual, family and social context, providing a clear organizing framework for understanding and healing families (Thompson, 2015, p. 264).
Are methods of structural family therapy strong enough in order to find a solution for such a complicated situation as Sam’s one, where no one, even adults, do not feel responsible for the general problems, merely blaming the partner? No doubt, they are!
Actually, structural family therapy is proven to be an effective means of treating several childhood and adolescent problems, namely – even drug addiction, anorexia nervosa, delinquency, psychosomatic problems (Wetchler & Hecker, 2014, p. 145). In other words, if its abilities allow coping with youth addiction, it is promising to try this very method, especially in the integration, for comparatively easier tasks – poor academic performance and relationships.
Now it is the issue of paramount importance to make an emphasis on the second of those approaches, which are to be applied to Sam’s case. Even though, structural family therapy approach will give several important clues for the resolution of this case, such view would still be too limited and narrow-minded. Therefore, it is crucially important to combine it with the second from the chosen ones – in particular, solution focused brief therapy.
Actually, this solution-focused approach is an extremely important tool not only for problem families, but also for every human, as it helps checking whether our current events of life correspond with the desired ones. In fact, as De Shazer –mastermind of this field of knowledge – stated – this approach helps clients “meet their needs in such a way that they can make satisfactory lives for themselves” (Franklin, 2011, p. 56).
Therefore, this kind of therapy does not begin healing process from finding trauma reasons. Actually, with the help of using specific tools, e.g. copying, scaling and miracle questions, therapist opens client’s eyes for desired future, which is frequently rather reachable. What is the greatest in this way of practice, many clients do manage to perform this method by themselves in the future, without turning into a depression and forced visit to a therapist.
Obviously, integration of two approaches seems to be attractive, as it gives chances to combine the most efficient tools from both methods.
Limitations of the Integration
On the other hands, integration should be performed rather attentively, as the combining of the maximum amount of heterogeneous approaches is not its goal. If it is performed carelessly and negligently, its key essence will be lost, its limitations will be obvious. Moreover, integration does not allow dedicating time and professional efforts for nuances, which would have been available for exploring if all the attention had been paid to one approach.
Under the method of structural therapy, therapist subtly enters into the invisible system of family communication, making plans manipulations on particular elements of relationships. As Sam’s family recognized the need in therapist’s help, then their system of relations belongs to dysfunctional, which means that the direct internal change is urgently needed.
As it has been already mentioned, the essential part of structural therapy is joining therapist and family. This process is not as straight-forward as it may seem at first glance, as even professional therapist, who has helped an overwhelming number of families, performs not an easy task at the stage of joining. This initial part of work is closely linked with accommodation, during which therapist tries to do his best in order to adjust his professional style to the family’s mode of living in order to make them behave naturally.
There is not a concrete plan, how to find out essential parts of structural diagnosis. Furthermore, structural diagnosis can even be changed and perfected for a couple of times. In fact, family structure is not immediately available to the observer; it is achieved experientially in the process of joining the family, through interacting over the course of several sessions (Wetchler & Hecker, 2014, p. 136). In case of integration of two approaches, the therapist would always feel a constant lack of time for making proper sessions and preparing appropriate structural diagnosis.
In order to understand the result of Sam’s family structural diagnosis, it is recommended to pay attention on the essence of this very approach. Its name is not occasional, it does emphasize on family structure as specific order, which works either for the sake of family welfare, or insensibly it poisons.
Actually, the analyzed family structure cannot be recognized as a role model. Those, who are to act in a wise and graceful manner, behave themselves rather incontinently, which influences adolescent. Sam’s psychic, which needs some authoritative characters to rely on during wavy period of growing up, faces inadequate parental relations. Hence, he feels a lack of motivation for achieving academic successes; in addition, Sam is deprived of role model for building polite relations with the world as well as tender romantic relations.
As family therapy is a practical activity, the next step, which follows the forming of aforementioned structural diagnosis, is the actual process of restructuring. If main points are underlined by the therapist in a right way, he or she immediately pays family’s attention to them.
The final goal of structural family therapy technique is to establish and maintain functional boundaries within the families and to replace dysfunctional ways of interacting with self-reinforcing family interaction patterns (Segrin & Flora, 2011, p. 386). Therefore, it supports the fact that structural and solution-focused approaches are perfect match, as both of them are aimed at restoring of internal powers of family as an independent unit.
Several threads of research have established structural family therapy as an empirically validated approach of family therapy, hence, its ability to produce changes in families is proven (Winek, 2009, p. 169).
As it has been already briefly informed, in the solution-focused approach the therapist instead of listening to information about the problem, listens out for any evidence in the account of what the client wants, what skills, strengths or qualities they may possess which may me of use in building of their preferred future (Hooper, et al., 2012, p. 410).
Among the variety of tools of solution-focused approach, Sam’s family should necessarily try so-called “exception seeking”. This term refers to the situations, especially negative ones, the existence of which people continue, merely with the power of own thoughts and suggestions.
De Shazer himself has pointed that whatever the cause of a problem might be, its continuation has something to do with the context or setting in which it occurs and the expectation that the problem is going to continue (Burns, 2005, p. 2). Unfortunately, integration probably would make the application of such specific tools almost impossible, which refers to limitations of integration.
There is no guarantee that even the most basic elements of this approach – the “miracle question”, scaling questions, use of breaks, set of compliments, suggestions or homework tasks – would be used during integrated sessions (Kim, 2013, p. 2)
Obviously, their answers, analyzed in the previous section, seemingly give a wide psychological picture, but actually, without applying other tools of solution-focused approach (scaling questions, home works, etc.) due to lack of time because of integration, the scope of therapist’s work is artificially made more narrow.
Conclusion
Consequently, the integration of both methods has helped to identify obvious family issues as well as to reveal hidden problems from an eye of a common observer.
In fact, structural approach is able to find out that the problem with the adolescent is the reflection of the problem with parents, who cannot cope with own fears and weaknesses. This method of family therapy is efficient in order to help a therapist establish particular ties with family, due to which it is possible to create a structural diagnosis.
On the next stage of restructuring, which is crucial for our heroes – Liz, Jack and Sam, new efficient patterns for coping with problems are to be established. Such stage is of paramount importance, as it gives families an opportunity to lead a happy life under individual recipe, without the constant support of a therapist.
Simultaneously, the second approach of family therapy is applied to our family – solution-focused brief therapy. This extremely cheerful kind of therapy allows analyzed family to forget about problems, which frequently are made up in human minds, and concentrate on the ways of reaching such solutions, which are desirable for the whole family.
This very approach, especially the method of miracle questions, alongside with aforementioned approach, is to help this family reinforce its strengths. As it is seen from potential answers, for couple Liz and Jack it is important to change location, place, as it makes them feel lack of motivation. In addition, their flourishing as a family will necessarily depend on their ability to cooperate in the warmth and tenderness and take into account the feelings and expectations of each other.
At the same time, it is difficult to answer whether integration is the best solution. On the one hand, it is able to introduce allegedly a comprehensive illustration of the family, whereas on the other hand, it shortens the time for applying exclusive techniques of each of approaches, which makes a research in some way more superficial.
References
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Hooper, C., Thompson, M., Laver-Bradbury, C. & Gale, C. (2012). Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Theory and Practice, Second Edition. Cornwall: MPG Books.
Kim, H. (2006). Client Growth and Alliance Development in Solution-focused Brief Family Therapy. New York: UMI.
Kim, J. S. (2013). Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: A Multicultural Approach: A Multicultural Approach. London: SAGE Publications.
O'Connell, B., Palmer, S. (2003). Handbook of Solution-Focused Therapy. London: SAGE Publications.
Segrin, C., Flora, J. (2011). Family Communication. New York: Routledge.
Thompson, R. (2015). Counseling Techniques: Improving Relationships with Others, Ourselves, Our Families, and Our Environment. New York: Routledge.
Wetchler, J. L., Hecker, L. L. (2014). An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy. New York: Routledge.
Winek, J. L. (2009). Systemic Family Therapy: From Theory to Practice. California: SAGE Publications.
