family psychotherapy: multigenerational
perspective/families of origin/multigenerational therapy
The interactional patterns of a
nuclear family often prove to have been prefigured and established in the parents'
families
of origin. Emotional and social disorders can thus be seen as the expression of
problems that have been developed and passed on over the course of many generations. A
multigenerational
perspective does not, for example, view the mother of a schizophrenic child as
responsible for the child's schizophrenia; the mother is merely one "player" in
a long line of "players" in other generations. Specific rules and values of the
family system
have been established during the course of the family coevolution.
In certain situations, the rules and values can result in conflict, tension, and strain,
which give rise to symptoms.
With this in mind, it often makes sense to include the grandparents in therapy, either for
diagnostic reasons or to change the relational patterns of the
family.*
Also: multigenerational
transmission
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*Extracted with permission from Simon, Fritz et al Language of Family
Therapy - A Systemic Vocabulary and Source Book (Family Process Press Series)
Paperback 1985 Family Process, Inc.
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