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Family counseling is a mode of treatment aimed at changing patterns of family interactions so as to correct family disturbances. There are theories in family counseling that lend themselves to helping families acquire and maintain certain qualities; such as the following: commitment to the family and its individuals, appreciation for each other, willingness to spend time together, effective communication patterns, a high degree of religious/spiritual orientation, ability to deal with a crisis in a positive manner, encouragement of individuals, and clear roles.
Family therapy is grounded in systems theory, which emphasizes three major principles: circular causality, ecology, and subjectivity (Nietzel, 1998). Circular causality means that events are interrelated and mutually dependent rather than fixed in a simple cause-effect sequence. Thus no member of a family is the cause of another's problems; the behavior of each member usually depends, to some degree, on each others. Ecology means that systems can only be understood as integrated patterns, not as parts. For example, a change in the behavior in one member of a family will radiate to affect all others. Subjectivity means that there are no objective views of events. In other words, each family member has their own perception of family events (Nietzel, 1998).
Family therapists sometimes operate from a behavioral point-of-view trying to teach family members alternative ways of communicating their needs. They teach parents to be firm and consistent in their child-discipline practices, encourage each family member to communicate clearly with one another, educate family members in behavior-exchange principles, discourage blaming for all family problems, and help all members of the family to consider whether or not their expectations of other members are reasonable.
A common goal in family therapy is to improve communications among family members (Corey, 1995). Certain qualities are ideal to attain when in a family group or system. Family therapists are available to help families move toward attaining these positive goals and characteristics.
Works Cited
Corey, G. (1995). Group counseling. California: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.
Nietzel, M., Bernstein, D., & Milich, R. (1998). Introduction to clinical psychology. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
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