CO 614HA FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY SPRING 2016 PROF. RAYMOND PENDLETON Monday s 2:00-5:00pm PURPOSE: The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to Family Systems Theory. The intent is to introduce students to the most prominent contemporary systems of therapy. This course will thus provide the foundation for further course work in Family Systems Therapies. Students are expected to read critically some of the original source materials summarized in the text, paying particular attention to basic assumptions and the methodologies derived from them. Further, the course will provide an opportunity for evaluating the various theoretical approaches by comparison with biblical/theological concepts of family and family function. The structure of the course will include lecture/discussion, group and individual presentations and appropriate video materials. 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 biblicaltheological declarations about the nature of the human 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, Michael P. (2012). Family Therapy; Concepts and Methods. (10th Ed.) Needham, MA: Pearson. ISBN# 978-0-205-82719-0 Thomas W. Blume. (2006). Becoming a Family Counselor: A Bridge to Family Therapy. ISBN#978-0-471-22138-8. Recommended Reading - Two books listed in the Bibliography are of particular significance: 1. Balswick and Balswick - The Family: in Christian Perspective. 2. Anderson and Guernsey - On Being Family: Toward a Social Theology of the Family. 1
Read approximately 1500 pages, not including the textbook. Keep a reading log that is due on Friday, May 1 st, 2015. WRITTEN WORK REQUIREMENTS - 1. Beginning with the third week of class each student will prepare a three page paper that will summarize and evaluate each of the theories presented. A brief statement of the basic assumptions of the theory, the major implications for therapy and the leading proponents for the utilization of the theory along with your own personal reflections on the adequacy of the theory from the perspective of a Christian practitioner. Each of these papers is due one per week from weeks three through eight. 2. A final 10 page paper in which each student will take a particular theoretical approach and write an extensive critique including assumptions, methods and techniques. Such questions as - "Does this theory have an appropriate balance in its design?" - - "How does this theoretical formulation square with the clear Biblical/Theological understanding of the nature of persons, families and function?" "How do I personally find the theory to be appealing to me as a practitioner?" Appropriate bibliographic support is expected. This last paper is due the last week of classes. Monday, April 27, 2015. GRADING PLAN Brief Papers: week 3 8 25% Group Presentation 15% Final Paper 50% Reading Requirements 10% 2
CO 614-FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY COURSE OUTLINE Spring 2016 SESSION 1 - Introduction to the course. Assignment of work/presentation groups. Discussion of covenant as an integrative entity. Learning to think systemically. Group discussion: Worldviews of psychology in historical perspective. SESSION 2 - Social Constructionism -Cybernetics - Postmodernism Group discussion: Systems theory and Biblical absolutes with respect to family and culture. SESSION 3 - Psychodynamic approaches - Murray Bowen Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy Object Relations Family Therapy SESSION 4 - Experiential Approaches - Carl Whitaker Walter Kempler SESSION 5 - Structural Approaches - Salvatore Minuchin SESSION 6 - Communication Approaches Don D. Jackson John H. Weakland Paul Watzlawick Virginia Satir 3
SESSION 7 - Strategic Approaches/ Milan Jay Haley Cloe Madanes SESSION 8 - Behavioral Approaches - Marital Therapy Behavioral Family Therapy Sexual Therapy SESSION 9 - A look ahead - future developments in Family Therapy The need for integrative models. Group discussion: Essential ingredients in Family Therapy Guidelines for integration. SESSION 10 - Systems in Review. Assessment and research in Family Systems Theory. Group discussion: Looking at ourselves. Second order cybernetics Course evaluation by small groups. 4
CO614- FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY BIBLIOGRAPHY Spring 2016 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, R. and Guernsey, D. (1985). On being family: Essays on a social theology of the family. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. Anderson, T. (Ed.) (1991). The reflecting team: Dialogues and dialogues about the dialogues. New York: W. W. Norton. Balswick, J. O. and Balswick, J. K. (1988). The family: A Christian perspective on the contemporary home. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. Balswick, K. O. and Moraland, K. (1990). Social problems: A Christian perspective. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. Bateson, G. (1972). Steps to an ecology of mind. New York: Ballantine. Bateson, G. (1974). Double bind. In S. Brand (Ed.), II cybernetic frontiers (pp. 9-33). New York: Random House. Beavers, W. R. (1981). A systems model of family for family therapists. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 7, 229-307. Beavers, W. R. (1982). Healthy, midrange and severely dysfunctional families. In Walsh, F. (Ed.), Normal Family Processes (pp. 45-66). New York: Guilford Press. Becvar, R. J. and Becvar. D. S. (1982). Systems theory and family therapy: A primer. Washington, DC: University Press of America. Bell, J. E. (1975). Family therapy. New York: Jason Aronson. Bertanaffy, L. von (1968). General systems theory. New York: George Braziller. Bertanaffy, L. von (1968). General systems theory: Foundations, development, applications. New York: Harper and Row. Boszormenyi-Nagy, I. (1987). Foundations of contextual therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel. Boszormenyi-Nagy, I. 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 University Press. Carter, E. and McGoldrick, M. (Eds.). (1980). The family life cycle: A framework for family therapy. New York: Gardner Press. Churchman, C. (1979). The systems approach and its enemies. New York: Basic Books. 5
Curran, D. (1983). Traits of a healthy family. Minneapolis: Winston. Duvall, E. M. and Miller, B. C. (1988). Marriage and family development (6th ed). New York: Harper and Row. Elkin, M. (1984). Families under the influence. New York: W.W. Norton. Friedman, E. H. (1985). Generation to generation: family process in church and synagogue. New York: Guilford Press. Foerster, H. von (1981). Observing systems. Seaside, CA: Intersystems Publications. Gangel, K. (1977). Toward a biblical theology of marriage and family. Journal of Psychology and Theology 5:55-69, 150-162, 246-259, 318-331. Goldenberg L. and Goldenberg, H. (1985). Family therapy: An overview (2nd ed.). Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole. Gurman, A. S. and Kniskern, D. P. (1981). Handbook of family therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel. Haley, J. (1973). Uncommon therapy. New York: W. W. Norton. Haley, J. (1976). Problem-solving therapy. New York: Harper Colophon. 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. 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, O. C. (Eds.). (1989). Couples therapy: An Adlerian perspective. Minneapolis, MN: Educational Media Corporation. Lederer, W. J. and Jackson, D. D. (1968). Mirages of marriage. New York: W. W. Norton. Madanes, C. (1981). Strategic family therapy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Madanes, C. (1984). Behind the one-way mirror. San Fransisco: 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. Nichols, M. (1987). The self in the system: Expanding the limits of family therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel. 6
Bacon. Nichols, M. and Schwartz, R. (1995). Family therapy: Concepts and methods. Boston: Allyn and 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. Schultz, S. J. (1984). Family systems therapy: An integration. New York: Jason Aronson. Simon, G. (1992). Having a second-order mind while doing first-order therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 18, 377-387. Simon, R. (1985). Structure in destiny: An interview with Humberto Maturana. The Family Therapy Networker, 9(3), 32-43. 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. 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 Press. Toman, W. (1976). Family constellation: Its effects on personality and social 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 1965-74. New York: W. W. Norton. Wynn, J. C. (1987). The family therapist: What pastors and counselors are learning from family therapists. Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell. Wynne, L. C., Weber, T. and McDaniel S. H. Emotional process in the marketplace. The family therapist as consultant: New applications of systems theory. New York: Guilford Press. 7