Virgina_Satirs_Humanistic_Therapy_Theory

Virgina Satirs Humanistic Therapy Theory Virginia Satir differed from other family therapy theorists in that her methods focus on the positive or healthy aspects of the family rather than the “problem”. She believed that the “problems” that arose within a family were based upon the healthy intentions of its members, which were not expressed in an authentic manner. This resulted in a variety of communication breakdowns in the family and the inability of the family members to express their feelings in an authentic manner. Satir used therapy to build self-esteem and to allow the clients to grow in a healthy way through various therapeutic techniques (Lawson & Prevatt, 1999). In Satir’s model there are four communication styles that are adopted by family members when they are afraid to voice their true feelings. She labels these as poses and it is the therapist’s job to allow the family to feel comfortable enough to be able to recognize the poses and show their authentic feelings. The poses are placating (weak, dependent), blaming (superior, accusatory), computing (cold, analytical), and distracting (refuses to acknowledge situation). Gentle, guiding techniques are used in this therapy (Lawson & Prevatt, 1999). To help the family members recognize the family, therapy, feelings, authentic, poses, members, very, therapist, healthy, gentle, communication, clients, way, type, theory, satir, rather, positive, intentions, guiding, found, cultures, comfortable, approach, virginia, variety, through, therapeutic, techniques, study, school, recognize, problem, prevatt