BEH 229 Family Counseling: Systems Theory and Systemic Thinking

Introduction to Systems Theory

• Families as organized units with interactive relationships.
• Change in one component affects other components.
• Families are linked to larger systems (culture, community, etc.).

Systemic Framework

• Reciprocal interaction between parts of a family system.
• Systemic thinking helps broaden understanding of family functioning.
• Family therapists help manage interactions across settings (school, healthcare).

Systems Model

• Mental construct for assessment, treatment planning, and intervention.
• Models demonstrate complex reciprocal nature of systems.
• Factors: Individual, Interpersonal, and Contextual.

Factors Influencing Systems

• Individual Factors: Personality, gender, age, ethnicity, beliefs, etc.
• Interpersonal Factors: Family lifecycle, diversity, couple relations, etc.
• Contextual Factors: Politics, culture, healthcare, socioeconomic conditions.

Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory

• Multiple social systems influence behavior.
• Five levels: Micro, Mezzo, Exo, Macro, Chrono.
  • Micro: Direct interactions (family, school, peers).
  • Mezzo: Interaction between groups (faith-based school).
  • Exo: Indirect systems (mass media, legal services).
  • Macro: Cultural ideologies (e.g., U.S. independence).
  • Chrono: Socio-historical context (life events).

Systems View

• Organization and wholeness are key.
• Family is more than the sum of its parts.
• Relationships are complex and causal.

Family Systems Theory

• Families are rule-oriented entities.
• Systems theory suggests family patterns are based on structure.
• Patterns regulate family functioning.

Family Roles and Rules

• Unstated and overt rules guide family interactions.
• Dysfunctional families have dysfunctional rules.
• Examples of roles: Hero, Placater, Scapegoat, Lost Child, Mascot.

Homeostasis and Feedback in Families

• Homeostasis: Stability through change.
  • Well-functioning couples strengthen partnerships.
• Feedback loops: Mechanisms for system regulation.
  • Negative Feedback: Maintains status quo.
  • Positive Feedback: Promotes change.

Subsystems and Boundaries

• Families have subsystems (e.g., parental, sibling).
• Boundaries define system interactions.
  • Open vs. Closed systems.
  • Permeability affects family functioning.

Families and Larger Systems

• Families interact with healthcare, schools, community resources.
• School-based services address children's issues.
  • Ecosystem mapping for evaluating systems.

Healthcare and Family Systems

• Medical family therapy integrates care.
• Substance abuse, mental illness involve multiple systems.

Systemic Problems

• Therapists consider cultural, political, institutional systems.
• Systemic thinking is foundational in family therapy.

Conclusion

• Systemic thinking aids in family therapy by providing a comprehensive framework to understand and intervene in family dynamics.