Family Therapy and Systemic Practice

INTRODUCTION
This text is a brief overview of basic facts about a therapeutic approach called family therapy and systemic practice. It is meant for anybody who is interested in this approach as a professional or a client/patient and also for policy makers, decision makers in health care delivery and representatives of public and private health insurance schemes looking to find out what this approach can offer.


WHAT IS FAMILY THERAPY AND SYSTEMIC PRACTICE?
Family therapy addresses the problems people present with in the context of their relationships with significant people in their lives and their social networks. It is a well-recognized psychotherapy approach primarily aimed at the family system as a social unit in contrast to other psychotherapy approaches such as psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral therapy which focus on the individual. Family therapy and systemic practice is a heterogenous field; there are different schools and models that share several principles and guiding assumptions. Some of the goals of family therapy might be for instance: improvement of family functioning on different levels, enhancement of mutual understanding and emotional support among family members, development of coping skills and problem-solving strategies in various life dilemmas and situations and so forth.
Traditionally family therapy has had a primary focus on interactions among family members, quality of family relationships, various aspects of family development and functioning and so forth. However, family therapy rests on so called systemic assumptions or contextual perspective which emphasise the role of widers systems, such as community, society and the culture to which the family belongs. In recent years family therapists have started to call themselves `systemic therapists’ as they pay more attention to the impact of wider systems and social contexts on people’s lives.
The systemic perspective – which underpins the practice of most family therapists - views the problems of an individual in relation to the different contexts in which people live: i.e as a partner in a couple relationship, as a family member, a person with particular cultural and/or religious allegiances, while also taking into account socio-economic circumstances and political processes. Systemic practice regards `context’ as being of paramount significance for an individual’s psychological development and emotional well-being.
A family therapy session usually lasts between 60-90 minutes; the intervals between sessions are from one to several weeks depending on the presented problems, needs of the family members, the stage of the treatment and other variables. Decisions over these matters are negotiated collaboratively with clients and any other involved professionals. Although it is hard to estimate and it differs widely, the average length of family therapy treatment ranges between 6 – 20 sessions.
Family therapists most often work with more than one family member in the room but individual sessions or meetings with parents separate from children for example are also offered when appropriate. Some models of family therapy include collaboration with a co-therapist or a team. There are also times when systemic practitioners will intervene in the professional and/or social networks around families rather than focus specifically on the nuclear family unit. Both the length and the setting of family therapy result from a collaboration and a mutual agreement between a therapist and a family.


WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM FAMILY THERAPY AND/OR SYSTEMIC PRACTICE?
Family can be both a great source of support for people but also a source of distress, misunderstanding and pain. Therefore family therapy and systemic practice is important whenever the aim is to enhance the ability of family members to support each other. Enabling family members to use their resources more efficiently in a supportive way can be vital in helping members manage transitional stages of family development or stressful life events such as a serious illness or a death of a family member.
Generally speaking, any situation or a problem that affects relationships between family members and family functioning and its supportive role, can benefit from systemic family therapy. Similarly any problem of an individual that affects his/her life in relation to his/her relationships to family and wider contexts will benefit from a systemic approach. Involving others in an individual’s family or social network in the treatment can help to avoid the pathologizing of that individual and also address the problem more effectively.
Family therapy can be useful in times of crisis and also with regard to long-standing problems. It also serves to prevent problems such as a behavioural difficulty, for example, deteriorating into delinquency or mental health breakdown. Some of the issues or situations at which a family could benefit from family therapy are listed bellow.

 Health problems, particularly chronic physical illnesses
 Psychosomatic problems
 Child and adolescent mental health
 Adult mental health
 Psychosexual difficulties
 Alcohol and other substance abuse
 Marital problems including separation and divorce issues
 Foster care, adoption and related issues
 Family life cycle and transitional stages of life issues
 Promoting parenting skills and family functioning
 School-related problems
 Work-related problems
 Traumatic experiences, loss and bereavement
 Disruption of family life due to social, political and religious conflicts

It should be noted that socially and economically disadvantaged families may in particular benefit from family therapy and systemic practice. In a number of European countries, such as Finland and United Kingdom for example, these approaches are available and well established within public services.

CURRENT EVIDENCE BASE
Family therapy (also known as systemic therapy) enables family members to express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions safely, to understand each other’s experiences and views, appreciate each other’s needs, build on family strengths and make useful changes in their relationships and their lives. However, are these statements supported with any evidence according to current mainstream scientific standards?
Since the 1990´s there has been a steady increase in studies providing strong evidence base for family therapy in different indications. At present, research of different design and methodology provides substantial evidence for both the efficacy and the effectiveness of diverse family intervensions. Several reviews also suggest that family therapy is not more costly, and sometimes even significantly less expensive than other treatments that do not usually include the family. It is the proven cost-effectiveness of family in some conditions that will be of interest to people responsible for public services organization or treatment programes development in health care institutions. Some of the research findings show that including a family therapy in treatment significantly reduces costs of provided health care and cost of pharmacological treatment. There are a great deal of studies that demonstrate the effectivenes of family therapy, systemic intervention or family work in treatment of eating disorders, conduct problems, depression, addictions, schizophrenia and other problems in childhood or adolescence.
Although the level of efficacy and effectiveness of family therapy and family-based interventions differ according to research design and studied conditions, family therapy is currently established as an evidence-based psychotherapy approach. Some recent papers with this supportive evidence are listed at the end of this text among the references. Given the current state of the art in family therapy field, it is no surprise that in some European countries is family therapy recognised as an evidence-based approach by scientific bodies, for instance in the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland etc.


SUMMARY
Family therapy based on systemic perspective is a distinctive psychotherapy approach with a primary focus on family and other relationships of an individual. It is a well-researched approach with strong evidence of efficacy and effectiveness in a wide range of specific conditions. Provision of family therapy should be offered for the following reasons:

 Family-focused work is an important as means of preventing various problems that may become a serious burden for society in general.
 Family therapy is considered a highly effective approach in the prevention and treatment of various emotional and behavioral problems in childhood and adolescence.
 Family therapy can help family members to both use their own resources in providing support each other in various stressful situations including mental and physical illness.
 Properly trained family therapists and systemic consultants may use their skills in diverse contexts such as organizations and institutions, where they can foster team work and problem-solving. They can also participate in conflict resolutions and negotiation processes in social and political crises.
 A systemic perspective in its broadest sense can contribute to strengthening solidarity, tolerance, trust and collaboration, the cornerstones of a healthy society.

David Skorunka- On behalf of the working group of the EFTA-NFTO Chamber

TULBURARILE DE SOMN LA COPILUL MIC

Organizaţia Salvaţi Copiii România implementează în Bucureşti, proiectul „Îngrijire de calitate pentru copii - Servicii de excelenţă în sănătatea mentală”, cu asistenţă tehnică Salvaţi Copiii Norvegia şi finanţare din partea Innovation Norway.

Proiectul urmăreşte promovarea sănătăţii mentale şi îmbunătăţirea calităţii îngrijirii pentru copiii şi adolescenţii vulnerabili, prin: dezvoltarea unui cadru operaţional de servicii psihosociale acordate în cadrul Centrului de Educaţie Emoţională şi Comportamentală pentru Copii (CEECC) şi dezvoltarea de programe de training pentru profesioniştii care oferă serviciile psiho-sociale.

În acest sens în ziua de joi, 10 decembrie 2009, se va desfăşura în Bucureşti, în cadrul Centrului de Educaţie Emoţională şi Comportamentală situat pe Bulevardul Unirii nr. 43-45, un workshop pentru medici pediatri si medici de familie.

În cadrul acestui workshop vor fi oferite informaţii despre tulburările de somn la copilul mic şi modalităţi de intervenţii psihosociale. Workshop-ul are o durată de 2 ore şi se va desfăşura în intervalul 16,00 – 18,00.

Pentru informaţii suplimentare, vă rugăm contactaţi:
Dr. Iuliana EPARU- tel. 0723-079 237
Psih. Gyorgy GASPAR – tel. 0740- 362 681

LOCALIZAREA CONTROLULUI

Dorinta oricarui parinte este de a avea un copil inteligent, care sa se poata adapta in societate si care pe viitor sa aiba succes. Acest fapt depinde in mare masura de modul in care este educat copilul si de receptivitatea acestuia la aceste modele de educatie.

Capacitatea de a se adapta la mediu exterior, de a depasi greutatile vietii depinde de gradul de incredere pe care il are individul in capacitatile proprii, grad care este influentat de imaginea de sine formata in copilarie.

Astfel, parintii, si mai apoi educatorii, pot inocula copilului anumite imagini in ceea ce priveste capacitatile sale de a reusi in viata, sau chiar anumite trasaturi de personalitate.In cazul in care copilul este criticat in mod exagerat, repetat, acesta poate sa-si formeze o imagine de sine caracterizata printr-o lipsa de incredere in capacitatile proprii de a face fata dificultatilor. In aceasi masura poate fi influentata si formarea imaginii asupra lumii exterioare. Un climat familial nesigur, instabil, poate determina pentru copil formarea unei imagini despre lumea exterioara caracterizata de instabilitate, de ostilitate. Intr-o astfel de lume el se simte incapabil sa se adapteze.

S-a constatat ca unii copii se dezvolta formandu-si o anumita imagine a lumii in care traiesc pe care ei au abilitatea de a o controla, pe cand altii isi dezvolta o imagine acestei lumi in care ei nu o pot controla, neavand suficienta forta.Primii sunt inclinati spre internalitate si sunt caracterizati de optimism, creativitate si incredere in fortele proprii facand fata incercarilor vietii, iar ceilalti sunt inclinati spre externalitate, localizind controlul asupra vietii lor in exterior, la bunul plac al unor forte greu sau deloc controlabile. Directia pe care o adopta copilul in dezvoltarea sa, respectiv spre internalitate sau externalitate este puternic influentata de stilul educatiei familiale:
- atat educatia severa, autoritara, cu un control exagerat, cat si cea supraprotectoare in care copilul este ferit cat mai mult de obstacole pot determina o evolutie spre externalitate.
- o educatie in care se tine seama de cerintele copilului, in care ii este stimulate independenta si aptitudinile poate duce spre internalitate.

Psih. Ana CHINCEA- AMPP

SAPTAMANA SFANTULUI NICOLAE

ASOCIATIA MULTICULTURALA DE PSIHOLOGIE SI PSIHOTERAPIE VA INVITA SA SPRIJINITI CAMPANIA DE STRANGERE DE FONDURI PENTRU SAPTAMANA SFANTULUI NICOLAE

http://www.ampp.aaz.ro/prezentare/16983/Actiuni-sociale

SPER in colaborarea cu AMPP

PROGRAM DE FORMARE ÎN
PSIHOTERAPIA EXPERIENŢIALĂ ŞI A UNIFICĂRII CENTRATĂ PE
ADULT – COPIL – CUPLU – FAMILIE

Programul se adresează licenţiaţilor în psihologie, psihopedagogie specială, asistenţă socială, medicină şi teologie.

Psihoterapia experienţială a unificării P.E.U. este o metodă holistică, centrată pe analiza de simbol, dezvoltare personală şi autoschimbare prin intermediul exerciţiului provocator, improvizaţiei şi meditaţiei creatoare cu suport artterapeutic şi expresiv. Este o terapie individuală şi colectivă (de grup, de familie şi organizaţională), atât pentru adulţi, cît şi pentru copii şi adolescenţi. Plasează în centrul preocupărilor dezvoltarea şi transformarea umană.

Consonanţe şi interferenţe teoretice cu: terapia analitică şi alte terapii psihodinamice, terapia gestalt, terapiile creative de grup, P.N.L., logoterapia, terapia transgeneraţională şi psihogenealogică, unele abordări transpersonale şi meditative, alte terapii experienţiale.

Program acreditat cu aviz profesional nr. RF – IIB2/19.06.2006
Pentru înscrieri şi informaţii suplimentare:
Psih. Ritta Nicoară: 0744 – 11.84.76
E-mail: asociatiampp@yahoo.com
Site: www.sper.ro, www.ampp.aaz.ro
LOCURILE SUNT LIMITATE !!!

Formare in psihoterapie integrativa cu accent pe familie, cuplu si individ

Se pot înscrie la formarea în psihoterapie integrativă specialişti din următoarele domenii: psihologie, psihosociologie, sociopsihologie, psihopedagogie specială, asistenţă socială, pedagogie, medicină. De asemenea se pot înscrie studenţi din anii terminali.

Acreditare:- formarea este acreditată de Colegiul Psihologilor din România, conf. Legii 213/27.05.2004;
-formarea este acreditată şi supervizată de Asociaţia Europeană de Psihoterapie Integrativă, Anglia.

Certificare:Obţierea dreptului de liberă practică în specialitatea psihoterapeut (cod C.O.R. 244503) include:
- la sfârşitul Formarii de Bază, după 2 ani, în baza diplomei de absolvire eliberată de I.R.P.I., cursanţii vor primi din partea Colegiului Psihologilor din Romania, conform Legii Psihologului nr. 213/27.05.2004, art. 10, alineatul a), ATESTATUL DE LIBERĂ PRACTICĂ CA PSIHOTERAPEUT CU PRACTICĂ SUB SUPERVIZARE;
- după terminarea stagiului clinic de supervizare (anii III şi IV de formare), cursanţiilor li se va elibera de către Colegiului Psihologilor, conform Legii Psihologului nr. 213/27.05.2004, ATESTATUL DE LIBERĂ PRACTICĂ, PSIHOTERAPEUT INDEPENDENT.

Taxa de formare: 160 de euro/patru zile.
Frecvenţa modulelor: un modul la doua luni a câte 4 zile.

Persoană de contact şi coordonator de grup:Psih. Gyorgy GASPAR- reprezentant IRPI;
Tel. 0740362681;
E-mail: irpiformare@yahoo.com

AMPP

ASOCIATIA MULTICULTURALA DE PSIHOLOGIE SI PSIHOTERAPIE

AMPP este prima entitate de acest gen din judeţul Satu Mare, care îşi propune să promoveze psihologia şi psihoterapia în plan naţional şi internaţional, trecând peste barierele culturale şi graniţele impuse de societate.




pentru informatii suplimentare accesati: www.ampp.aaz.ro