Theoretical Model and Interventions COUN
5271-Marriage and Family Systems
You have learned about 4 family therapy models. Identify one of these 4 theoretical models you
would use with this family and provide a brief overview of the model. Why was this model chosen?
I chose the structural approach model for the Reyes family because it looks at how families work
as a whole unit. This model, created by Salvador Minuchin, examines family subsystems, boundaries, and
relationships to understand how a family operates. The structural approach is unique because it focuses on
the present moment and believes that changing a family's structure (their unwritten rules and hierarchy)
can change how family members behave. Unlike other therapy models that might focus on individual
issues, this approach sees the family as an interconnected system where everyone's actions affect
everyone else. The model has some basic goals for creating a healthy family: Parents should have clear
authority over children Parents need to agree on important issues like discipline There should be clear
rules about who makes decisions and how disagreements are handled I found this approach particularly
helpful for the Reyes family. Their main problem is a lack of clear structure at home, which has led to
power struggles between parents and children. The structural approach makes sense here because it
, emphasizes that well-functioning families need a clear hierarchy - parents should have more authority
than children, and older siblings should have more responsibilities than younger ones. At its core, this
model suggests that a family is more than just a group of individuals living together. It's a complex
system with its own rules, patterns, and ways of interacting. When these patterns aren't working well, as
in the Reyes family's case, changing the family's structure can help everyone function better together.
How does the theory you chose inform how you view the family and their issues?
The Reyes family struggles with structure and boundaries. The main issue is that the parents don't
have enough authority in the household. Sam and Cass need to understand that their parents are in charge
and should be respected, even when they disagree with their decisions. This differs from how I was
raised. In my family, it was clear that parents were in charge, and older siblings had authority too. We
didn't question why older siblings had different privileges - that's just how it was. Emily is part of the
problem. She lets her parents interfere too much in her family life and marriage, and she struggles to be
5271-Marriage and Family Systems
You have learned about 4 family therapy models. Identify one of these 4 theoretical models you
would use with this family and provide a brief overview of the model. Why was this model chosen?
I chose the structural approach model for the Reyes family because it looks at how families work
as a whole unit. This model, created by Salvador Minuchin, examines family subsystems, boundaries, and
relationships to understand how a family operates. The structural approach is unique because it focuses on
the present moment and believes that changing a family's structure (their unwritten rules and hierarchy)
can change how family members behave. Unlike other therapy models that might focus on individual
issues, this approach sees the family as an interconnected system where everyone's actions affect
everyone else. The model has some basic goals for creating a healthy family: Parents should have clear
authority over children Parents need to agree on important issues like discipline There should be clear
rules about who makes decisions and how disagreements are handled I found this approach particularly
helpful for the Reyes family. Their main problem is a lack of clear structure at home, which has led to
power struggles between parents and children. The structural approach makes sense here because it
, emphasizes that well-functioning families need a clear hierarchy - parents should have more authority
than children, and older siblings should have more responsibilities than younger ones. At its core, this
model suggests that a family is more than just a group of individuals living together. It's a complex
system with its own rules, patterns, and ways of interacting. When these patterns aren't working well, as
in the Reyes family's case, changing the family's structure can help everyone function better together.
How does the theory you chose inform how you view the family and their issues?
The Reyes family struggles with structure and boundaries. The main issue is that the parents don't
have enough authority in the household. Sam and Cass need to understand that their parents are in charge
and should be respected, even when they disagree with their decisions. This differs from how I was
raised. In my family, it was clear that parents were in charge, and older siblings had authority too. We
didn't question why older siblings had different privileges - that's just how it was. Emily is part of the
problem. She lets her parents interfere too much in her family life and marriage, and she struggles to be
