I am two months into the uphill climb of my internship with Dr. Garry Del Conte, Psy. D. It has been a rewarding and challenging experience so far. Integrating Family Systems Therapy into my repertoire of theories just felt right. At this point, I have adopted a collage of Rational Emotive Behavioral, Existential, Interpersonal and now Family Systems theories.

Family Systems Therapy states that the family is a system of relationships that has rules in which each member plays a specific role. Problems arise when there is a breakdown in the interactional patterns. In the case of one client, he or she is merely a symptom-bearer of the broken transactional patterns in the family system.

Dr. D has been coaching me in his clever way of reframing seemingly awful situations into opportunities for change. I seem to be having a rather difficult time puctuating the positive aspect of a conversation in which a family member confesses something without realizing it. As Dr. D would say, “You have to be three steps ahead of the family. The family therapist is a choreographer that directs the family in their dance.” It’s gonna take some time, but I think I am at an advantage by having a master to learn under. I may have to refer to my wife since she too is choreographer.

Systems-oriented family therapy with a focus on structural systems was developed by Salvador Minuchin. Minuchin developed his perspective of families while treating under-privileged families in Philadelphia. He saw the family as having a structured set of transactional patterns. When a family life transition occurs, the current family structure is no longer functional and changes must be made in order for the family to function smoothly. Families that have rigid boundaries have more trouble changing, and tend to live according to the rules that are no longer functional in the new family structure.

I have only begun using the techniques of joining, enacting, and family mapping in order to help families make necessary changes. I look forward to the day I feel compentent in these techniques. I am also aspiring to master boundary making and paradoxical interventions which were developed by Jay Haley while working with Minuchin in Philly.

Dr. D was fortunate to have studied in Philly while Minuchin and Haley were at their peak giving lectures and seminars. I am privileged and honored to be working with such a person right here in Memphis. God is good.

If you know me or have followed me at all, you know how moved I am by this song. Check it out! (You’ll have to stop my music player) Let me know what you think, and I’ll share some ideas with you.

-paul