Instructor's Manual
(Lecture Notes Only)
D. Robert Casares
Couples and Family
Therapy: A Case Approach
1st Edition
Nancy L. Murdock
, Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER TWO: STRATEGIC FAMILY THERAPY 3
CHAPTER THREE: STRUCTURAL FAMILY THERAPY 6
CHAPTER FOUR: EXPERIENTIAL FAMILY THERAPY 9
CHAPTER FIVE: BOWEN FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY 13
CHAPTER SIX: COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY 17
CHAPTER SEVEN: SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY 21
CHAPTER EIGHT: NARRATIVE THERAPY 25
CHAPTER NINE: EMOTION-FOCUSED THERAPY 28
CHAPTER TEN: THE GOTTMAN APPROACH 31
CHAPTER ELEVEN: CONCLUSION 34
iii
Copyright © 2022 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
, Chapter 1: Introduction
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER OUTLINE
What is family?
“The family is a social system that supports survival and welfare of its members.”
However, what constitutes a family is varied, complicated, and expansive
Counselors should approach couples and family counseling with respectful curiosity and
an awareness of personal biases
What is couple and family therapy? Why do I use the term couple?
In couple and family counseling, the relationship—rather than an individual—is the client
A Brief History
Family therapy began in the 1940s and 1950s
British anthropologist Gregory Bateson introduced systems thinking and cybernetics
to the profession of CFT
The Palo Alto Group eventually established the Mental Research Institute, which
explored and advanced early theory in CFT
Notable early CFT figures included Jay Haley, Don Jackson, John Weakland, John
Fry, Virginia Satir, Murray Bowen, and Salvador Minuchin
1970–1985: Strategic, Structural, Bowen, and Experiential theories were developed
1980s and 1990s: Increased emphasis on social constructivism and cultural diversity
Basic Systemic Constructs
The family is a system
The family is interconnected—each part affects other parts of the system
Systems therapists are more interested in the process (how things happen in a
family) than the content (the what) of the happenings
There are too many theories!
Review major theories before selecting one
It is valuable to learn about and practice a single theory during early efforts to become a
CFT
Key considerations for selecting a theory: research support and how a particular theory
fits with your assumptions about world and style of relating to others
Research
Research indicates that CFT approaches produce desired client change
1
Copyright © 2022 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
, Chapter 1: Introduction
Types of research: outcome research and theory testing research
Choosing a Theory
Avoid trying to be integrative early in your career
The Theories I Chose
The CFT approaches presented represent traditional, postmodern/constructivist, and
couples-focused theories
Conclusion—A Word About My Case-Based Approach
Each chapter starts with a case
After each construct, principle, or technique associated with a theory is introduced, it is
applied to the chapter’s case
2
Copyright © 2022 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(Lecture Notes Only)
D. Robert Casares
Couples and Family
Therapy: A Case Approach
1st Edition
Nancy L. Murdock
, Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER TWO: STRATEGIC FAMILY THERAPY 3
CHAPTER THREE: STRUCTURAL FAMILY THERAPY 6
CHAPTER FOUR: EXPERIENTIAL FAMILY THERAPY 9
CHAPTER FIVE: BOWEN FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY 13
CHAPTER SIX: COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY 17
CHAPTER SEVEN: SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY 21
CHAPTER EIGHT: NARRATIVE THERAPY 25
CHAPTER NINE: EMOTION-FOCUSED THERAPY 28
CHAPTER TEN: THE GOTTMAN APPROACH 31
CHAPTER ELEVEN: CONCLUSION 34
iii
Copyright © 2022 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
, Chapter 1: Introduction
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER OUTLINE
What is family?
“The family is a social system that supports survival and welfare of its members.”
However, what constitutes a family is varied, complicated, and expansive
Counselors should approach couples and family counseling with respectful curiosity and
an awareness of personal biases
What is couple and family therapy? Why do I use the term couple?
In couple and family counseling, the relationship—rather than an individual—is the client
A Brief History
Family therapy began in the 1940s and 1950s
British anthropologist Gregory Bateson introduced systems thinking and cybernetics
to the profession of CFT
The Palo Alto Group eventually established the Mental Research Institute, which
explored and advanced early theory in CFT
Notable early CFT figures included Jay Haley, Don Jackson, John Weakland, John
Fry, Virginia Satir, Murray Bowen, and Salvador Minuchin
1970–1985: Strategic, Structural, Bowen, and Experiential theories were developed
1980s and 1990s: Increased emphasis on social constructivism and cultural diversity
Basic Systemic Constructs
The family is a system
The family is interconnected—each part affects other parts of the system
Systems therapists are more interested in the process (how things happen in a
family) than the content (the what) of the happenings
There are too many theories!
Review major theories before selecting one
It is valuable to learn about and practice a single theory during early efforts to become a
CFT
Key considerations for selecting a theory: research support and how a particular theory
fits with your assumptions about world and style of relating to others
Research
Research indicates that CFT approaches produce desired client change
1
Copyright © 2022 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
, Chapter 1: Introduction
Types of research: outcome research and theory testing research
Choosing a Theory
Avoid trying to be integrative early in your career
The Theories I Chose
The CFT approaches presented represent traditional, postmodern/constructivist, and
couples-focused theories
Conclusion—A Word About My Case-Based Approach
Each chapter starts with a case
After each construct, principle, or technique associated with a theory is introduced, it is
applied to the chapter’s case
2
Copyright © 2022 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
