Structural Family Therapy System Analysis

Families can have a significant influence on an adolescent’s mental health. Family Therapy such as Structural Family Therapy (SFT) is a treatment modality that can be used alone or in combination with other treatment modalities (Walsh, 2015, p. 202). In fact, this approach to intervention has much in common with cognitive and behavioral theories, however; SFT emphasizes the family system and changing its organization. Thus, changing the organization of the foster family leads to change in Tracey. The systems perspectives view the family as a self-regulating system held together by unspoken rules (CLASS). What is also important when utilizing this modality is the family’s ability to adapt ad change over time. For example, learning to connect …show more content…
To do this, the therapist must employ techniques of accommodations and joining, not siding. Through accommodation, the social worker should collaboratively plan support for the family structure i.e, offering support for what is going well, and helping to create changes in structures that will work for every member of the family. The social worker must assess and track the family’s interaction, expressed problems, the frequency of old or new stressors and content. During this assessment, the family’s external systems and formal or informal institutions such as Tracey’s biologically family, child welfare, education, jobs, friends, and the foster parents’ biological family must be explored. Also, the social worker must assess if the family accommodate each other’s needs (CLASS). Once those areas of subsystems, boundaries, functions, relationships, external relationships and social support are identified, the social must work with the family to identify areas of strength and resilience, possible flexibility and change. Considering the recommended factors, the assessment of Tracey and her foster family must include: family members’ preferred transactional patterns, and available alternatives. Member’s capacity to change, such as the foster parents’ ability to accept Tracey’s African American male friend. Family members’ sensitivity to members’ needs, behaviors, attitudes, etc... such as Tracey’s feelings about her limited interactions with her biological family. Also, the social worker must assess any developmental issues, tasks, and requirements. Specific resources of social support and sources of stress must be assessed. Typical management of stress of the parents and how that differs from foster children. The social worker must be mindful of assess the potential of the foster parents being