boundaries
An essential concept in structural family therapy; the divisions between family subsystems
circular causality
In contrast to linear causality, a theory typically endorsed by family therapists whereby events influence one another in a reciprocal way
closed-enrollment groups
In contrast to open-enrollment groups, therapy groups in which all members start and finish therapy together, with no new members added during the process
communication patterns
An area commonly targeted by family therapists as the source of psychological symptoms and an area for improvement in family therapy
Conflict Tactics Scales
A questionnaire designed to assess how individuals behave when family conflicts arise, often used to explore interpersonal abuse or violence
cotherapist
A therapist who coleads group therapy sessions with another therapist
differentiation of self
In family therapy, the healthy process whereby families allow each member to become his or her own person without sacrificing emotional closeness with other members of the family
disengaged
In structural family therapy, an unhealthy type of relationship among family members resulting from overly rigid boundaries between subsystems
emotionally fused
In family therapy, a type of family relationship resulting from incomplete differentiation of self whereby family members remain overly emotionally connected with one another
enmeshed
In structural family therapy, an unhealthy type of relationship among family members resulting from overly permeable boundaries between subsystems
exception questions
In solution-focused family therapy, a technique whereby therapists ask families to recall situations when the problem was absent or less severe
extra-group socializing
A problematic and discouraged behavior among group therapy members; interacting as friends, romantic partners, and so on outside the group sessions
family life cycle
A six-stage theory of family development that can be modified to account for the wide variety of families that a family therapist may see
family structure
In family therapy, the implicit rules that govern family members’ behavior
feedback
In family therapy, action taken by a family member to return the family to a state of homeostasis
formula first-session task
In solution-focused family therapy, a technique whereby clients are instructed to take note in the upcoming week of aspects of their lives they want to continue
functionalism
In family therapy, the belief that although psychological symptoms may appear maladaptive, they are in fact functional within the family environment of the individual
genogram
A pencil-and-paper assessment technique in family therapy involving the creation of a family tree that incorporates detailed information about the relationships among family members
group cohesiveness
A therapeutic factor in group therapy; feelings of interconnectedness among group members and the equivalent of the therapist–client relationship in individual therapy
group therapy
A form of psychotherapy in which multiple clients participate in sessions together and interpersonal interaction is typically emphasized here and now
here and now
A focus in group therapy on the present interpersonal interactions with fellow group members rather than events that have happened in clients’ lives outside the group
heterogeneous groups
Therapy groups in which no single common characteristic (such as a diagnosis) is shared by all members
homeostasis
In family therapy, the notion that systems have the ability to regulate themselves by returning themselves to a comfort zone or “set point”
identified patient
In family therapy, the family member whose symptoms are most obvious or problematic to other members
