EP85 Invited Address 06b - The Family as Deduced from Twenty Years of Families Only - Carl A. Whitaker, MD
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- Topic Areas:
- Invited Addresses | Family Therapy | Psychotherapy
- Categories:
- Evolution of Psychotherapy | Evolution of Psychotherapy 1985
- Faculty:
- Carl Whitaker, MD | Albert Ellis, PhD | Virginia Satir, MA, ACSW
- Duration:
- 1 Hour 27 Minutes
- Format:
- Audio Only
- Original Program Date:
- Dec 13, 1985
- License:
- Never Expires.
Tags: Family Therapy Psychotherapy Carl Whitaker Adaptive Learning Attunement Autonomy Behavioral Change Emotional Growth Experiential Learning Expressive Communication Flexibility Metaphor Therapy Naturalistic Change Observation Phenomenological Approach Problem-Solving Therapy Rapport Receptive Communication Reframing Self-Discovery Storytelling Strategic Therapy Tailoring Therapeutic Alliance Unconscious Resources Utilization Validation
Description
Description:
Educational Objectives:
- To list five characteristics of the biological family
- To list three unique qualities typical of the stepfamily, multiple marriage families, and families with adopted children
*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*
Outline
Introduction and Reflections on Carl Whitaker
- Introduction of Carl Whitaker, sharing insights from 10-year relationship with another panelist/moderator.
- Describes Carl as a father, grandfather, brother, and provocative figure.
- Carl humorously prefers being seen as a "mother" over a "wife."
- He praises Virginia Satir and highlights belief systems' role in psychotherapy.
Whitaker's Journey and Beliefs
- Carl shares his background in OB-GYN and interest in schizophrenia.
- Emphasizes co-therapy, two-parent family systems, and working with families over individuals.
- Advises therapists to stay clear of destructive family dynamics and focus on being helpful.
Therapist's Role and Family Dynamics
- Carl stresses therapists’ strength in guiding families toward self-improvement.
- Discusses family unconscious, therapist honesty, and open communication.
- Shares an example of how “body talk” revealed deeper family issues.
Family Types and Therapy
- Differentiates biopsychosocial, psychosocial, and social families.
- Advises understanding family history and involving previous family members in therapy.
Self-Disclosure and Techniques
- Carl warns against over-disclosure that may harm clients.
- Albert Ellis advises caution; Virginia Satir advocates for using personal stories to ease anxiety.
- Carl emphasizes protecting therapists from over-involvement.
Violent Families and Legal Duties
- Carl urges therapists to separate therapeutic roles from enforcement roles.
- Emphasizes setting clear boundaries and handling mandatory reporting carefully.
Final Thoughts
- Panelists answer questions on self-disclosure, violent families, and single-parent households.
- Carl stresses having a co-therapist or support system.
- The session ends with a reminder that therapists must change themselves to create change in families and society.
Credits
Faculty
Carl Whitaker, MD Related Seminars and Products
Carl Whitaker, MD, was an American physician and psychotherapy pioneer family therapist. Whitaker is most well-known for acknowledging the role of the entire family in the therapeutic process. He is the founder of experiential family therapy, or the symbolic-experiential approach to therapy. Rather than scapegoating one family member or even a specific family problem, experiential family therapy looks at the entire family system. Several other approaches to family therapy have drawn heavily from Whitaker's theories.
Albert Ellis, PhD Related Seminars and Products
Albert Ellis, PhD, was an American psychologist who in 1955 developed Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). He held M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in clinical psychology from Columbia University and American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). He also founded and was the President of the New York City-based Albert Ellis Institute for decades.
He is generally considered to be one of the originators of the cognitive revolutionary paradigm shift in psychotherapy and one of the founders of cognitive-behavioral therapies.[2]
Based on a 1982 professional survey of US and Canadian psychologists, he was considered as the second most influential psychotherapist in history (Carl Rogers ranked first in the survey; Sigmund Freud was ranked third).[3][4] Psychology Today noted, "No individual—not even Freud himself—has had a greater impact on modern psychotherapy."[5]
Virginia Satir, MA, ACSW Related Seminars and Products
For almost forty years, Virginia Satir has practiced and taught psychotherapy. One of the founders of family therapy, she has co-authored four books and authored five. Additionally, there are a number of books about her approach. She was recipient of the Distinguished Family Therapy Award from the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
Satir wass the co-founder of the Mental Research Institute. She wass past president of the Association of Humanistic Psychology and has a number of honorary doctorates. Her master's degree was granted in 1948 from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration.