Abstract
In the relatively brief 25 to 30 year history of family therapy, eight theoretical approaches have emerged (Kaslow, 1981).1 Although each struggles to claim its uniqueness, a thorough examination of the various schools suggests much in common among them. All, for example, clearly subscribe to a systems approach and most would seem to begin family therapy with a focus on the presenting symptom (Wynne, in Gurman & Kniskern, 1981). On the other hand, each approach has contributed significantly to the body of information concerning theory and technique in understanding and working with troubled families. Although a combination of approaches utilizing an integrative approach has been advocated by some (Duhl & Duhl, 1981; Kaslow, 1981; Lazarus, 1981; Stanton, 198la) in order to cull the best of the various schools, it is first imperative that one familiarize oneself with each theoretical orientation. The purpose of this chapter is to help the reader to understand fully and feel at home with the theory and technique developed within the school known as Structural Family Therapy. Case histories will be presented along with actual transcripts from early diagnostic sessions to illustrate just how one approaches a family from the structural perspective.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Baker, L., Minuchin, S., & Rosman, B. The use of beta-adrenergic blockade in the treatment of psychosomatic aspects of juvenile diabetes mellitus. In A. Smart (Ed.), Advances in beta-adrenergic blocking therapy. Princeton, N.J.: Excerpta Medica, 1974.
Barcai, A. Normative family development. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 1981, 7, 353–359.
Brady, J. P., & Rieger, W. Behavioral treatment in anorexia nervosa. In T. Thompson & W. S. Dockens, III (Eds.), Applications of behavior modification. New York: Academic Press, 1975.
Duhl, B. S., & Duhl, F. J. Integrative family therapy. In A. Gurman & D. Kniskern (Eds.), Handbook of family therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1981.
Gurman, A., & Kniskem, D. (Eds.), Handbook of family therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1981.
Kaslow, F. A diaclectic approach to family therapy and practice: Selectivity and synthesis. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 1981, 7, 345–351.
Lazarus, A. The practice of multi-model therapy. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1981.
Minuchin, S. Families and family therapy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1974.
Minuchin, S., Baker, L., Rosman B. L., Liebman, R., Milman, L., & Todd, T. C. A conceptual model of psychosomatic illness in children. Archives of General Psychiatry, 1975, 32, 1031–1038.
Minuchin, S., Rosman, B. L., & Baker, L. Psychosomatic families: Anorexia nervosa in context. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1978.
Rosenberg, J. B. Two is better than one: Use of behavioral techniques within a structural family therapy model. Journal of Marriage and Family Counseling, 1978, 4, 31–39.
Rosenberg, J. B. A behavioral/structural approach to marital therapy. Submitted for publication, 1983.
Rosenberg, J. B., & Lindblad, M. Behavior therapy in a family context: Treating elective mutism. Family Process, 1978, 17, 77–82.
Stanton, M. D. Marital therapy from a structural/strategic viewpoint. In G. P. Sholevar (Ed.), The handbook of marriage and marital therapy. Jamaica, N.Y.: S.P. Medical and Scientific Books, 1981. (a)
Stanton, M. D. Strategic approaches to family therapy. In A. Gurman & D. Kniskern (Eds.), Handbook of family therapy. New York. Brunner/Mazel, 1981. (b)
Whitaker, C. Symbolic-experiential family therapy. In A. Gurman & D. Kniskern (Eds.), Handbook of family therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1981.
Wynne, L. C. In A. Gurman & D. Kniskern (Eds.), Handbook of family therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1981.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1983 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Rosenberg, J.B. (1983). Structural Family Therapy. In: Wolman, B.B., Stricker, G., Framo, J., Newirth, J.W., Rosenbaum, M., Young, H.H. (eds) Handbook of Family and Marital Therapy. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4442-1_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4442-1_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-4444-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-4442-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive