Free Essay Example: Structural versus Strategic Therapies

Introduction

Structural therapy and strategic therapy are kinds of family therapies that help in family therapy interventions. Psychological counseling and interventions that can help improve communication among family members, as well as resolve conflicts, are referred to as family therapy. Family therapy is usually done by social workers, psychologists, and licensed therapists. Its aim is also to help understand and handle special family situations and in the creation of a home environment that is functionally better. In this paper, structural and strategic therapy are compared.

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Structural therapy

Structural therapy refers to family therapy that provides psychological treatment to the family as a whole (Colapinto, 2019). It focuses on the functional aspects of the family as a whole rather than in parts who are the members. Every member and element of the family is considered in this form of psychotherapy. Evaluations are carried out for the entire family to identify gaps in the practical and functional aspects of the family. Therapy is then based on what can improve and optimize the operational aspects of a family. In general, it aims at creating a home environment that is better and efficient.

The main strength of this form of therapy is that it focuses on preparing the whole family for changes. That reduces and chances of falling back to previous states for family members. In this situation, family members will learn to embrace changes and adapt favorably to what goes on around them. It is also adaptable to the needs of the family for every therapeutic session that is offered. Even so, structural therapy is time-consuming and involves more work.

Strategic therapy

The therapeutic structure that considers parts of the whole when providing psychotherapy solutions to families is known as strategic therapy. This family therapy structure involves every presenting issue getting specially tailored solutions (Madanes, 1991). A therapist will model a solution based on a topic they identify in a family and address it. Strategic therapy aims to change an element in a family to impact changes in the whole family. Unlike structural therapy, strategic therapy offers solutions with a quick turnaround and is less intrusive on matters not concerned with it. The implementation of change requires that a strategy reduces or eliminates any resistance, which is not the case in strategic family therapy. Its shortcomings include the reoccurrence of issues due to resistance to change from others.

The family portrayed in the image has a unique problem; the firstborn happens to be a child that the father got before marrying. The new mother who came into the home loved him earlier. That was because the first child in the family after marriage was a girl. The birth of a second-born who was a son triggered a series of changes that resulted in the first-born being neglected.

Conclusion

All the love was now directed to his new brother. The boy now stays with his grandfather after the passing of his mother. His grandmother also passed away a few months ago, and now he only has a grandfather as his guardian. Structural family therapy would be ideal for this family to help address the underlying issues. The problem affects every person in the family, including the boy’s grandfather, who now takes care of him. Family therapy will help identify all the issues the family faces and tailor a solution that would prepare the whole family for changes that will come with resolving the current issues he faces.

References

Colapinto, J. (2019). Structural family therapy. Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy, 2820-2828.

Madanes, C. (1991). Strategic family therapy. Brunner/Mazel.