1
Family System Model
Chad M. Vick
School of Behavioral Sciences, California Southern University
PSY-6509-8A: Systems of Family Therapy
Dr. Lori Aleknavicius
July 25, 2022
, 2
Family System Model
When working with family units during therapy sessions, it’s important for clinicians to
understand which therapeutic modality will best support families' difficulties and challenges.
Family therapy can be complex due to multiple individuals being involved. This is where
clinicians need to build and promote a safe space to work with each individual family member
and the entire unit as a whole. Throughout this paper, we will look at a specific case study and
apply the concepts of psychoanalytic family therapy to understand how the therapy model works
and how to implement it properly. Likewise, we will examine this family therapy approach in
order to recognize the mechanisms used to build family flexibility while providing strength-
based resilience. Lastly, we will review the responsibilities of the therapist and the role they play
in facilitating family healing, understanding cultural competence, and addressing ethical
concerns while being fully self-aware and present at the moment.
Case Study: Barry J (Chapter 8)
Barry J was a new college student that had never been away from his family for an
extended period of time (Nichols & Davis, 2019. pg. 124). On his first trip to college, Barry J
spent three months away before he fell victim to his first complete psychotic break (Nichols &
Davis, 2019. pg. 124). While staying in a hospital relating to his episode, nursing staff were able
to determine that Barry J’s psychotic break was due to his separation from his family (Nichols &
Davis, 2019. pg. 124). The nursing staff recommended a paradoxical intervention and asked him
to live apart from his parents in the hopes that he could become more independent and
comfortable being away from his family (Nichols & Davis, 2019. pg. 124). This did not work
and only caused Barry J to have a second psychotic break within two months and be readmitted
to the hospital (Nichols & Davis, 2019. pg. 124).
Family System Model
Chad M. Vick
School of Behavioral Sciences, California Southern University
PSY-6509-8A: Systems of Family Therapy
Dr. Lori Aleknavicius
July 25, 2022
, 2
Family System Model
When working with family units during therapy sessions, it’s important for clinicians to
understand which therapeutic modality will best support families' difficulties and challenges.
Family therapy can be complex due to multiple individuals being involved. This is where
clinicians need to build and promote a safe space to work with each individual family member
and the entire unit as a whole. Throughout this paper, we will look at a specific case study and
apply the concepts of psychoanalytic family therapy to understand how the therapy model works
and how to implement it properly. Likewise, we will examine this family therapy approach in
order to recognize the mechanisms used to build family flexibility while providing strength-
based resilience. Lastly, we will review the responsibilities of the therapist and the role they play
in facilitating family healing, understanding cultural competence, and addressing ethical
concerns while being fully self-aware and present at the moment.
Case Study: Barry J (Chapter 8)
Barry J was a new college student that had never been away from his family for an
extended period of time (Nichols & Davis, 2019. pg. 124). On his first trip to college, Barry J
spent three months away before he fell victim to his first complete psychotic break (Nichols &
Davis, 2019. pg. 124). While staying in a hospital relating to his episode, nursing staff were able
to determine that Barry J’s psychotic break was due to his separation from his family (Nichols &
Davis, 2019. pg. 124). The nursing staff recommended a paradoxical intervention and asked him
to live apart from his parents in the hopes that he could become more independent and
comfortable being away from his family (Nichols & Davis, 2019. pg. 124). This did not work
and only caused Barry J to have a second psychotic break within two months and be readmitted
to the hospital (Nichols & Davis, 2019. pg. 124).
