Clinical Family Psychology. Spring Semester, 2014 Prof. Dr. Dominik Schoebi

Transcription

1 Clinical Family Psychology Spring Semester, 2014 Prof. Dr. Dominik Schoebi

2 Some information Dates: 17.2., 10.3., (24.3.), 31.3., 5.5., 19.5., Readings! Exam 2

3 1. Introduction Goals Overview and basic understanding over important fields of (Clinical) Family Psychology Theoretical foundations, Theories Topics Tools and Approaches Interventions (Prevention/Training, Brief Interventions, (Family)Therapy) Critical Reflection of existing approaches the role of family variables in clinical psychology 3

4 1. Introduction Program 1. Historical background of CFP, Theories 2. Family Realities (changes and trends, diversity) 3. Research Approaches (incl. systemic approaches, qualitative approaches); Education and Training in CFP 4. Methods, Tools, Practical Issues in CFP 5. Counseling and Therapy 6. Fields of Applications 4

5 1. Introduction 5

6 1. Introduction Why Family Psychology? Human beings live in families The family context belongs to the strongest factors impacting mental and physiological health The family context is relevant for intervening effectively maintaining functioning and preventing relapse If you work with children and adolescents, you essentially (should) work with families 6

7 1. Introduction who is «family»? traditional view: two parents and one or more children (couple centered) and grandparents, cousins etc. biological view: a person, including ist genealogical lineage (offspring centered) «modern» view: I, and those I temporarily choose to live and share my life with (individual centered) Network of close relationships regularly present in individuals daily lives who are mutually expected to be trusted, to care for one another, and to assume responsibility on a reliable long term basis 7

8 1. Introduction diversity 8

9 How can we understand family processes? by identifying what we are interested in by structuring and formalizing our view of the object of interest by producing and attributing information to the elements of interest 9

10 Theorizing! 10

11 1. Introduction Theorizing Theories: Conceptual and structural model of a particular matter that we want to explain (explanandum) Theories require conceptual elements (e.g., variables) and structural elements (e.g., relationships between variables) Theories are simplifications of complex realities we want to keep the essential and discard everything that is not necessary to answer the specific question of interest Theories are essential for a scientific approach NOT ONLY for research, but ALSO for practical work! 11

12 theory building: guiding questions what are the relevant entities? what is the adequate structure? 12

13 1. Introduction «our» ways of thinking Cartesian approach: doubt until you have evidence divide the whole into parts elabortive thinking process (simple complex) be thorough René Descartes, Problems of a cartesian approach: can lead to extreme individualism reductionism linear thinking (cause effect) can lead to extreme objectivism 13

14 Systemic Thinking A system consists of multiple entities/concepts that interacting with each other, and that are interrelated and interdependent. They form a greater entity a complex whole Complex adaptive systems are systems of subsystems. They learn from experience and change shape and/or interrelations in a way that optimizes the system s purpose to the conditions 14

15 1. Introduction Systemic Thinking: Ecological Systems Theory Development is the result of the relationships between people and their environments Cannot evaluate a child s development only in the immediate environment Must also examine the interactions among the larger environments that a child develops in Urie Bronfenbrenner,

16 1. Introduction Systemic Thinking: Ecological Systems Theory Urie Bronfenbrenner,

17 1.1. Systemic Thinking The Systemic Paradigm time Bray & Stanton, 2013, p.11 17

18 1.1. Systemic Thinking An example: Child distress (strictly) Cartesian approach Systemic approach mother s behavior «origin» mother s characteristics and behaviors child s experience short term effect child s characteristics and behaviors mother s immediate environment child s attachment style mediator child s immediate environment caregiver s characteristics and behaviors child s dysfunction father s characteristics and beahviors 18

19 1.1. Systemic Thinking Linear Perspective A B C D E Cause = Effect

20 1.1. Systemic Thinking Feedback Perspective A B C D E

21 1.1. Systemic Thinking Thinking in Loops Anxiety Seek Closeness Feel Proximity Reassurance Explore Feel Distance Anxiety Reassurance Seek Closeness Feel Proximity/ Distance Explore

22 1.1. Systemic Thinking Systemic behavior can be described through two basic processes 1. Reinforcement 2. Balancing

23 1.1. Systemic Thinking Reinforcement the greater your weight the more you eat

24 1.1. Systemic Thinking displacement Balancing regulation equilibrium wavelength regulation

25 1.1. Systemic Thinking Systemic Thinking: Individual factors Individual factors are very important Feelings, thoughts, needs/motivations, are located in the individual! change is initiated and maintained in the individual However: individual factors are not standalone factors! 25

26 1.1. Systemic Thinking Systemic Thinking: Individual factors Individual factors are considered as part of an interactive system, with interpersonal and macrosystemic factors (Stanton, 2013) Trait individual factors (e.g., personality) is an emerging phenomenon that reflects the interplay among components of the system that is a person (Shoda, 2007) 26

27 1.1. Systemic Thinking Systemic Thinking: Interpersonal factors Interpersonal factors refer to interpersonal dynamics in dyads, triads, families, larger social systems relational aspects presence, roles, communication etc. of persons interpersonal factors do not operate in isolation, but interact with individual factors and macrosystemic factors 27

28 1.1. Systemic Thinking Systemic Thinking: Macrosystemic factors Environment and larger socio-cultural context Global, regional, and local dynamics that interact with individual and interpersonal factors highly dynamic: global local; great variety 28

29 1.1. Systemic Thinking Systemic Thinking: time usually, time considered from an individual perspective obvious case: development concepts such as «changes», «processes», and «individual history» require a time dimension multigeneration genogram, cohort effects, etc. 29

30 1.1. Systemic Thinking Systemic Thinking: Factors Stanton, 2013, p.12 30

31 1.1. Systemic Concepts Systemic Concepts: Complexity Complexity is inevitable in systemic approaches example: if we want to understand family functioning of a family of four individuals (2 parents, 2 children) from a systemic point of view we want to understand 4 individuals how these indivduals behave and interact within a total of 6 dyadic relationships, four triadic relationships, and as one family, within external relationships within a larger family, neighborhood, community, country, culture We cannot just add up individual analyses We should not oversimplify by breaking down into pieces, subsystems, but neither should we oversimplify by «blackboxing» complex sytems 31

32 1.1. Systemic Concepts Systemic Concepts: Complexity Systems are difficult to predict systematically: they are CHAOTIC this does not mean that we should not or cannot make predictions, or that there are no regularities Chaos theory: some relevant issues correspondence between size/importance of conditions/changes and their effects: small changes can have large effects interactional functioning: the effects of conditions/changes can transform as a function of their interplay nonlinearity: effects or connections do not necessarily follow simple linear patterns: they can be curvilinear, nonlinear, have one or multiple thresholds, can be erratic, etc. 32

33 1.1. Systemic Concepts Systemic Concepts: Complexity relevant not only to research and diagnosis but also to interventions! as an introduction to Chaos Theory, read: McBride, N. (2005). Chaos theory as a model for interpreting information systems in organizations. Information Systems Journal, 15(3),

34 1.1. Systemic Concepts Systemic Concepts: Reciprocity Reciprocity is: simultaneous and mutually interdependent interaction between multiple components (Capra, 1983) when I m interacting with you, I m at the same time influencing you (each of you, more or less, in a different way, and the whole of you), while being influenced by you (by each of you more or less, and in a different way, and by you as a group) e.g., interpersonal behaviors, say, in a couple, are not a response to partner behaviors, but a function of the interaction between the partners 34

35 1.1. Systemic Concepts Systemic Concepts: Reciprocity Reciprocity is: simultaneous and mutually interdependent interaction between multiple components (Capra, 1983) 35

36 1.1. Systemic Concepts Systemic Concepts: Reciprocity importance consequences: move away from monocausal explanations blame, etc. requires considering integration of and interventions at multiple components of a system requires understanding of a component (e.g., an individual) in multiple roles e.g., as a sender and perceiver, recipient and actor, etc. 36

37 1.1. Systemic Concepts Systemic Concepts: «Living open systems» theory Idea: individuals/families are understood as living open systems continuous interaction with the environment exchanging ideas, energy, information to maintain the life of the system inconstrast, a closed system will not sustain itself indefinitely (e.g., a nuclear power plant) 37

38 1.1. Systemic Concepts Systemic Concepts: Self-organization living systems incorporate patterns of organization networks networks feedback mechanisms selfregulation mechanisms the system dynamically reorganizes itself across different states new behaviors, new structures 38

39 1.1. Systemic Concepts Systemic Concepts: Adaptation Self-organization provides the system with a certain flexibility that enables adaptation Adaptation reflects flexibility in accordance with shifting demands of the environment equifinality: creative protection, restoration, and advancement of wholeness survival of the system implications for therapy: the therapist joins the system to creatively initiate flexibility in the system 39

40 1.1. Systemic Concepts Systemic Concepts: Social constructivism and cognition system functioning requires communication and cognitive processing humans construct their realities in interaction with their social and physical environments learning, knowledge, memories reflect attempts to organize experience into patterns necessary for self-organization implications for therapy: therapist joins the system providing input to reconstruct realities (e.g., as a narrator) 40

41 1.1. Systemic Concepts Systemic Approach and Cartesian Approach: which one to choose? are they mutually exclusive? are these approaches compatible? what is a feasible strategy? simplify where possible while being aware of sytemic dynamics, dimensions, complexity and possible nonlinearity 41