Communications and
Experiential Family Therapy
Virginia Satir
 Carl Whitaker
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Concepts to watch for:
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The Primacy of the experience – “Existence
precedes essence,” “thoughts and feelings
are attempts to understand our world, but
the experience of life comes first.” Those
who are only intellectualizing are not fully
alive.
Affect – Families who are not in touch with
their experience and emotionally dead.
Concepts to watch for:
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The Person of the Therapist – Experiential
family therapists (all counselors) participate
actively and personally in the session. They
do not attempt to hide behind a therapeutic
mask, but risk being vulnerable and open.
Self-disclosure, and congruency and
transparency are vital.
Spontaneity and Creativity – non rational
and creative experiences are important to
provide for the family (client).
Concepts to watch for:
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Freedom, Holism, and Existential Anxiety –
Freedom – choice not fate, awareness of
death, finality of life.
I-Thou relationship – among family
members and with the world, and starting
with the therapist/client.
Present-centeredness – Immediate
experience and person-to-person
encounters.
Communications School
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Early MRI emphasized communications
All behavior is communication
Communication has both a Report and a
Command
Communication has both analogue and
digital parts
Meta communication is communication
about communication.
The double bind
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Two or more persons in an important relationship.
Repeated experience.
A primary negative injunction, such as “Don’t do X or
I will punish you.
A second injunction at a more abstract level
conflicting with the first, also enforced by punishment
or perceived threat.
A tertiary negative injunction prohibiting escape and
demanding a response Without this restriction the
“victim” won’t feel bound;
The complete set of ingredients is no longer
necessary after the victim is conditioned.
Existentialism
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Existentialism, a philosophy that examines the
immediacy of the problems of life i.e., the condition
of humans, the state of being free, and of having to
use freedom in order to answer the ever-changing
and unexpected challenges of the day. Existentialists
have the starting point for every philosophical
investigation as human existence -- the human
personality itself, my “me,” your "you" -- whose
drama of life, brought under critical analysis, should
point the way to the absolute value of reality.
Phenomenology – we all create and experience our
own reality separate from what is real – out there.
Search for meaning – we strive to understand what
is all about.
Satir- Outline
Humanistic perspective
View of human nature
Source of motivation
Development of pathology
Nature of change
Therapeutic relationship
Satir- Humanistic Perspective
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Techniques
Carl Rogers
Fritz Perls
Existentialists
Satir- Humanistic Perspective
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Goal of humanistic therapy is to
increase awareness of options and
potential
Make choices
Increase autonomy and selfactualization
Satir- Philosophical tenets
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Relationship is encounter between
two people at any moment
Strength of relationship based on
strength of self-concept
Satir- View of human nature
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Geared to survival, growth, getting
close to others.
Humans are limited in ways of
“knowing” self
Satir- Source of motivation
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Communication
Self-worth
Satir- Development of pathology
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Inability to form relationships.
Ineffective communication
Satir- Development of pathology
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Ineffective communicationConvey self incongruently
Variable to adapt to present context
Does not elicit feedback
Denial of impulses
Suppression of feelings
Families are locked into self-protection and
avoidance
Emotional deadness
Satir- Development of pathology
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Families are cold; tend to stay together out of habit
or duty.
Families lack warmth to themselves and others
Couples live together in quiet desperation.
Adults don’t seem to enjoy their children.
Ineffective communication types
Placater
Blamer
Computer
Distractor
Satir- Nature of change
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Goal of treatmentIncreased self-worth
Clear, direct, honest communication
Flexible and appropriate roles
Open and hopeful links to society
Satir- Therapeutic relationship
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Seen as resource person.
Serve as experienced observer.
Model good communication.
Teach clients effective communication.
Aware of possibilities for interactions in
therapy
Satir- Stages of therapy
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Opening phone call.
Discover who is in family.
Ages of members.
Importance of members.
Parenting roles
Satir- Stages of therapy
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Initial sessionClarify family expectations
Explain nature of family therapy
Explore symptoms
Reflect puzzlement of good
intentions
Family study
Satir- Stages of therapy
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Family Life Chronology- (First 2
sessions)
Courtship history
Early married life
Marital expectations
Plan and arrival of each child
Satir- Therapeutic relationship
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Emphasize equality in relationship
Encourage client’s to elicit feedback
from therapist
Make “I value you” statements
(well, we know you have good
seed)
Satir- Techniques
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Improve self-worthIdentify client strengths
Ask questions on client’s area of
expertise
Note achievements in family history
Accentuate good intentions
Questions on bringing happiness to
others
Satir- Techniques
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Improve communicationDo not allow members to block
communication
Do not allow members to speak for
each other
Encourage client’s to ask for
clarification
Interpret family messages
Satir- Stages of therapy
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TerminationComplete transactions, clear
messages
Improved perceptions of self,
others perceptions
Disagree
Make choices
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Questions?
Next Show film
Carl Whitaker
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Whitaker- Philosophy
Nontheoretical approach
Moment-to-moment interchange
Whitaker-
Carl Whitaker’s View of human
nature
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Healthy families:
Process of perpetual becoming.
Three generations that maintain
autonomy.
Flexible roles.
Flexible power distribution
Healthy families:
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Use constructive input.
Develop “as if” structure.
Allowed to be crazy.
Develop functional realities
Healthy families:
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Aware of stress of members.
Express positive and negative feelings.
Respect intimacy and separation.
Encourage outside relationships
Whitaker- Source of motivation
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Grow despite adversities.
Parents grown from difficulties with
their children.
Deal with symptoms as growth
Whitaker- Development of
pathology
Discomfort with growth.
 Inflexibility.
 Resistant to change.
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Whitaker- Nature of change
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Goal of therapy is to encourage change
and growth
Whitaker- Therapeutic
relationship
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Use of co-therapists.
Share opinions of family.
Use of children as co-therapists.
Model healthy adult functioning
Whitaker-Stages of therapy
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Initial phone call-Insist on all members
Whitaker- Stages of therapy
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Battle for structure.
Therapists initially control structure
of session, time, cost, location.
Insist on all members present
Whitaker- Stages of treatment
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Initial session.
Address father first.
Assess for subgroups
Whitaker- Stages of therapy
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Battle for initiative
Insist that family members make
change
Exchange control of sessions
Whitaker- Stages of therapy
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Battle for bilaterality
Family can leave treatment at any time
Flight into health
Whitaker- Techniques
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Redefinition of symptoms as growth.
Use fantasy alternatives.
Assign members to change roles.
Augment despair of members.
Engage in affective confrontation.
Treat children like children.
Separate interpersonal stress from fantasy
stress.
Highlight family revolution.
Extended family reunion.
Use of consultation
Whitaker- Stages of treatment
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Termination
Express feelings to family
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Questions?
View film