GORDON CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - CHARLOTTE CO614 FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY Spring Maria L. Boccia, Ph.D., D.Min.

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1 GORDON CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - CHARLOTTE CO614 FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY Spring 2009 Professor: PURPOSE: The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to family systems theory. The intent is to introduce students to the theoretical foundations of the most prominent contemporary therapeutic approaches. This course will thus provide the foundation for further course work in family systems therapies. Students are expected to read critically the source materials summarized in the text, paying particular attention to basic assumptions and constructs in order to understand the methodologies derived from them. Further, the course will provide an opportunity for evaluating the various theoretical stances with biblical/theological concepts of family and family function. COURSE OBJECTIVES: 1. To develop an understanding and appreciation for the history and development of family systems theory. 2. To review major contemporary theoretical formulations and to critique these theories on the basis of biblical/theological understanding of the nature of the family. 3. To develop an appreciation for the therapeutic implications of the various major theoretical approaches 4. To review current trends and develop an understanding for the direction of future research and development in the field of family therapy. READING REQUIREMENTS: Textbooks: Nichols, M.P. & Schwartz, R.C. (2007). Family Therapy: Concepts & Methods (8th Edition). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Balswick, J.O., & Balswick, J.K. (2007) The Family: A Christian Perspective on the Contemporary Home (3 rd Edition). Grand Rapids MI: Baker Book House. Friedman, E. H. (1985). Generation to generation: family process in church and synagogue. New York: Guilford Press. Required Reading: To develop an adequate foundation in family systems theory, students are expected to read from a variety of sources. In addition to the textbooks, books may be chosen from the appended bibliography, the bibliographies in the textbooks, or books or articles from the primary literature selected by the students provided they pertain to the topics covered by this course. An annotated bibliography of materials read will be turned in at the end of the course. For each source, please indicate the number of pages read, and provide a brief summary of and critical thoughts about what you read. Journal articles can be summarized in a paragraph, and books can be summarized in one-half to one page, typed single spaced. Grading criteria for this assignment are: 2000 pages = A 1600 pages = B 1200 pages = C Due date: May 4, 2009 COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Spring 2008 Page 1

2 Class participation: Students will participate in a small group presentation of one of the nine theoretical approaches to family therapy listed below. At the first class session, students will have the opportunity to sign up for the approach which they will present to class. Each group will be responsible to provide the class with a handout that includes the following information: (a) the principal theorists and practitioners, and a brief historical overview of the approach; (b) the main theoretical constructs and the major metaphors employed; (c) biblical and theological critique and reflections; and (d) a short annotated bibliography of significant writings. The group will distribute among the individual members the responsibility for presentation of these content areas, present some form of case material (e.g., case study, film clip, role play) and, as a group, lead a discussion with the class of the case material in terms of the theoretical perspective under consideration by offering several discussion questions. The handout for the class should be provided electronically, by posting it on Blackboard by noon of the Wednesday before the weekend during which the group will present the theory. Theories from which students may choose include: 1. Bowen family systems therapy. 2. Experiential family therapy. 3. Strategic family therapy. 4. Psychoanalytic family therapy. 5. Structural family therapy. 6. Solution focused family therapy. 7. Feminist family therapy. 8. Narrative family therapy. 9. Cognitive behavioral family therapy. Exams: There will be three exams. At the start Friday=s class on the second and third weekends, students will complete an exam on the material covered the previous weekend. The third exam will be taken at home with a proctor, within 3 weeks of the last weekend of class, and returned to the professor with a post-mark no later than May 12 th, These exams will be based on materials in the textbooks, handouts, and class presentations. GRADING: The student=s final grade in this course is based on class participation, writing assignments and exams, distributed as follows: class presentation: 40% 3 exams (15% each) 45% annotated bibliography 15% CONTACT INFORMATION: mboccia@gcts.edu office phone: cell phone: Seminary Choate Circle Charlotte NC office hours: TBA and by appointment snail-mail: Gordon-Conwell Theological Spring 2008 Page 2

3 CO FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY COURSE OUTLINE Weekend 1: Feb. 6-7 Friday Evening Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Introduction to the course, assignment of work/presentation groups General systems theory and fundamental concepts of family therapy. Early models and techniques; communications analysis; Discussion of world views of psychology in historical perspective Cybernetics, social constructionism, post-modernism Discussion of systems theory and Biblical absolutes with respect to family & culture Weekend 2: Mar. 6-7 Friday Evening Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon exam Introduction to psychodynamic and intergenerational models Bowen family systems therapy. Strategic family therapy. Psychoanalytic family therapy. Structural family therapy. Weekend 3: Apr. 3-4 Friday Evening Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Exam Introduction to contemporaneously oriented models Experiential family therapy. Cognitive behavioral family therapy Solution focused family therapy. Introduction to post-modern models Feminist family therapy Narrative family therapy Concluding discussions, course evaluation Spring 2008 Page 3

4 COURSE READINGS BIBLIOGRAPHY Anderson, R. and Guernsey, D. (1985). On being family: Essays on a social theology of the family. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. Balswick, K. 0. and Moreland, K. (1990). Social problems: A Christian perspective. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. Becvar, R. J. and Becvar. D. S. (1982). Systems theory and family therapy. A primer. Washington, DC: University Press of America. Carter, E. and McGoldrick, M. (Eds.). (1980). The family life cycle: A framework for family therapy. New York: Gardner Press. Erdman, P. & Caffery, T. (Eds.) (2003). Attachment and Family Systems: Conceptual, Empirical, and Therapeutic Relatedness. NY: Brunner-Routledge. Foerster, H. von (1981). Observing systems. Seaside, CA: Intersystems Publications. Nichols, M. (1987). The self in the system: Expanding the limits of family therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel. Olsen, D. (1993). Integrative Family Therapy (Creative Pastoral Care and Counseling). Minneapolis MN: Fortress Press. Papero, D. V. (1990). Bowen Family Systems Theory. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Richardson, Ronald W. (1996) Creating a Healthier Church: Family Systems Theory, Leadership, and Congregational Life Minneapolis MN: Fortress Press. Senge, P. M. (1990). The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. NY: Bantam Doubleday Bell. Simon, G. (1992). Having a second-order mind while doing first-order therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 18, Simon, George M. (1995). A revisionist rendering of structural family therapy. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, Vol 21(1), Slipp, S. (1984). Object relations: A dynamic bridge between individual and family therapy. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson. Stott, J. R. (1979). God's new society: The message of Ephesians. Downer's Grove, IL: InterVarsity. Vande Kemp, H. (1991) Family therapy: Christian perspectives. Grand Rapids: Baker. Walsh, Froma (1993). Normal Family Processes. NY: The Guilford Press. Wynn, J. C. (1987). The family therapist: What pastors and counselors are learning from family therapists. Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell. Spring 2008 Page 4

5 Classics in Family Systems Theory Ackerman, N. W. (1937). The psychodynamics of family life. New York: Basic Books. Ackerman, N. W. (1966). Treating the troubled family. New York: Basic Books. Anderson, T. (Ed.) (1991). The reflecting team: Dialogues and dialogues about the dialogues. New York: W. W. Norton. Bateson, G. (1972). Steps to an ecology of mind. New York: Ballantine. Beavers, W. R. (1981). A systems model of family for family therapists. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 7, Beavers, W. R. (1977). Psychotherapy and growth: A family systems perspective. New York: Brunner / Mazel. Bell, J. E. (1975). Family therapy. New York: Jason Aronson. Bell, N. W. and Vogel, E. F. (Eds.). (1968). A modern introduction to the family. New York: The Free Press. Bertalanffy, L. von (1968). General systems theory. New York: George Braziller. Bertalanffy, L. von (1968). General systems theory: Foundations, development, applications. New York: Harper and Row. Boszormenyi-Nagy, I. (1987). Foundations of contextual therapy. NewYork: Brunner / Mazel. Boszormenyi-Nagy, 1. and Framo, J. (Eds.). (1965). Intensive family therapy: Theoretical and practical aspects. New York: Harper and Row. Bowen, M. (1976). Family therapy in clinical practice. New York: Jason Aronson. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ Press. Goldenberg, L. and Goldenberg, H. (1985). Family therapy: An overview (2nd ed.). Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole. Haley, J. (1973). Uncommon therapy. New York: W. W. Norton. Haley, J. (1976). Problem-solving therapy. New York: Harper Colophon Books. Handel, G. (Ed.). (1967). The psychosocial interior of the family. Chicago: Aldine. Hoffman, L. (1981). The foundations of family therapy. New York: Basic Books. Hoopes, M. H. (1974). Who's who in family therapy. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. Spring 2008 Page 5

6 Johnson, R. A., Kast, F. and Rosenzweig, J. (1967). The theory and management of systems. New York: McGraw-Hill. Kempler, W. (1973). Principles of gestalt family therapy. Costa Mesa, CA: Kempler Institute. Kempler, W. (1981). Experiential psychotherapy with families. New York: Brunner / Mazel. Kern, R. M., Hawes, E. C. and Christensen, 0. C. (Eds.). (1989). Couples therapy: An Adlerian perspective. Minneapolis, MN: Educational Media Corporation. Madanes, C. (1981). Strategic family therapy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Madanes, C. (1984). Behind the one-way mirror. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Minuchin, S. and Fishman, H. C. (1981). Family therapy techniques. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Minuchin, S., Montalvo, B., Guerney, B. Rosman, B. and Schumer, F. (1967). Families of the slums. New York: Basic Books. Napier, A. Y. and Whitaker, C. A. (1978). The family crucible. New York: Harper and Row. Papp, P. (1977). Family therapy: Full length case studies. New York: Gardner Press. Rueveni, U. (1979). Networking families in crisis. New York: Human Sciences Press. Satir, V. (1967). Conjoint family therapy. (rev. ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books. Satir, V., Stachowiak, J. and Taschman, H. (1975). Helping families to change. New York: Jason Aronson. Simon, R. (1985). Structure in destiny: An interview with Humberto Maturana. The Family Therapy Networker, 9(3), Skynner, A. C. R. (1981). An open-systems, group analytic approach to family therapy. In Gurman, A. S. and Kniskern, D. P. (Eds.) Handbook of family therapy. New York: Brunner / Mazel. Toman, W. (1976). Family constellation: Its effects on personality and behavior. (3rd ed.). New York: Springer. Watzlawick, P. and Weakland, J. H. (Eds.). (1977). The interactional view. Studies at the Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto New York: W. W. Norton. Wolman, B. B. and Stricker (Eds.). (1983). Handbook of family and marital therapy. New York: Plenum Press. Spring 2008 Page 6