EP90 Workshop 25 - The Therapeutic Family Reunion - Carl Whitaker, MD
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- Not yet rated
- Topic Areas:
- Workshops | Family Therapy | Psychotherapy | Transference / Countertransference
- Categories:
- Evolution of Psychotherapy | Evolution of Psychotherapy 1990
- Faculty:
- Carl Whitaker, MD
- Duration:
- 2 Hours 52 Minutes
- Format:
- Audio Only
- Original Program Date:
- Dec 15, 1990
- License:
- Never Expires.
Tags: Family Therapy Psychotherapy Transference Carl Whitaker Attachment Attunement Autonomy Behavioral Change Challenge Cultivation Destabilization Disrupting Psychological Patterns Emotional Growth Experiential Experiential Learning Expressive Communication Flexibility Individualized Treatment Metaphors Naturalistic Observation Paradoxical Interventions Pattern Interruption Phenomenology Problem-Solving Therapy Rapport Receptive Communication Reframing Resilience Spontaneous Transformation Storytelling Strategic Interventions Strategic Therapy Tailoring Therapeutic Alliance Unconscious Resources Utilization Validation Adaptation Learning Self-Discovery Therapeutic Experimentation
Description
Description:
A multigenerational approach using co-therapy can enhance the effectiveness of family therapy. Cross-generational feedback avoids imprisonment in traditional transference. Family stress episodes can be seen as a multiprojectional process.
Educational Objectives:
- To describe the role of the therapist as a symbolic "foster parent"
- To understand how to construct the family group as the "patient" in need of treatment
*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*
Outline:
Personal Background & Philosophy
Carl Whitaker reflects on his career, emphasizing the importance of therapists sharing personal experiences and being honest with patients. He introduces "parallel play" in therapy, where therapists take on family roles to engage patients. He values creativity, self-awareness, and learning from mistakes rather than rigid techniques.
Family Therapy & Intergenerational Dynamics
Whitaker stresses the need to examine family systems across multiple generations to understand patterns. He discusses family roles, boundaries, and the impact of relationships on individual behavior. He encourages therapists to avoid over-involvement and maintain clear professional boundaries.
Therapeutic Techniques & Ethical Considerations
He highlights the importance of co-therapy to prevent emotional entanglement and advocates for therapist self-care. Whitaker discusses confidentiality, ethical dilemmas, and the need for therapists to protect themselves while guiding patients. He believes in symbolic experiences as a catalyst for deep psychological change.
Handling Family Conflicts & Special Cases
Whitaker explores challenges in family therapy, including domestic violence, suicide, and personality disorders. He stresses real-life observation over theoretical assumptions and the importance of structured intervention.
Influence & Legacy
Acknowledging Murray Bowen’s contributions to family systems theory, he reinforces the need for a therapist’s personal growth, flexibility, and a balance between individual and family therapy. Whitaker remains skeptical of cultural trends like the men’s movement, attributing male behavior more to evolution than societal constructs.
Overall, Whitaker’s approach prioritizes authentic therapist-patient relationships, systemic family understanding, and adaptability in therapy.
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.