Multifaith Perspectives on Family Therapy Models

ABSTRACT

Researchers used thematic analysis to identify participant perceptions of the alignment between their faith traditions and family systems theory, structural family therapy, Bowen’s multigenerational theory, and narrative family therapy. Thirty-seven participants from six faith orientations, including 20 denominations or sects, responded to a survey. Patterns across responses indicate that family systems theory concepts are compatible across diverse faith traditions. Structural family therapy’s emphasis on restructuring boundaries and hierarchy is compatible across faith traditions as long as cultural and religious norms are carefully considered. Bowen’s concepts of detriangulation and differentiation are compatible across faith traditions, but particular beliefs may contradict the transmission of family patterns. Core concepts of narrative family therapy are compatible across faith traditions as long as therapists honor intuitive processes, include stories from clients’ faith traditions, and do not instill stories of false hope. Regardless of model, some clients may resist definitions of psychological dysfunction and understand illness and change as supernatural.

KEYWORDS:

• Spirituality
• religion
• systems therapy
• Bowen family therapy
• narrative family therapy
• structural family therapy

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge Nicole Chilivis, M.Div., for assistance with creating the survey and data coding, and thank Andrew Shutes-David for his expert editorial assistance. Data was presented at the 2017 American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy National Conference.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there are no potential conflicts of interest.