6 Types of Family Therapy Techniques & Counseling Methodologies
                     6 Types of 
Family 
Therapy 
Techniques & 
Counseling 
Methodologi
es
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.com.au
Family therapy is a counseling method intended for 
romantic partners, relatives, and large family 
dynamics. The goal of family therapy is to help 
patients gain the skills and resources necessary to 
resolve their issues with healthy communication 
and compromise rather than anger.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH):
“Family therapy is a structured form of psychotherapy that seeks to reduce distress 
and conflict by improving the systems of interactions between family members. It is 
an ideal counseling method for helping family members adjust to an immediate 
family member struggling with an addiction, medical issue, or mental health 
diagnosis.”
Family therapy can help reconnect relatives or 
partners who have drifted apart amid relationship 
difficulties. However, since family relationships and 
their struggles are broad, not all types of family 
therapy work for everyone. Luckily, several 
different family therapy techniques are adept at 
addressing different kinds of family dynamics and 
their goals.
We will look at 6 types of family therapy techniques, the differences between them, 
and how the right one can help bridge the gap between struggling family members.
STRUCTURAL FAMILY THERAPY
Structural family therapy is a popular group counseling 
method invented by Salvador Minuchin based on 
improving communication and setting clear boundaries.
Structural family therapy also aims to help your family 
establish boundaries for what you need from your 
relatives and personal life. With improved communication, 
that boundary-setting becomes easier.
TRANSGENERATIONAL THERAPY
Transgenerational therapy, also called Bowenian therapy, is 
group counseling specifically for family members looking to 
break the generational beliefs or personality traits causing 
tension. The goal of a transgenerational therapist is to help 
their patients understand that self-differentiating from 
inherited feelings and thoughts is possible and to help them 
break any bad habits.
STRATEGIC FAMILY THERAPY
Strategic family therapy will closely examine patients’ 
behavior toward each family member and teach them to 
be mindful of those behaviors. Most family therapists will 
work toward that goal of mindfulness through this 
process:
• Examining individual family members’ social 
interactions and behaviors
• Identifying disconnects in communication that could 
be causing issues
• Creating tasks that challenge those communication 
behaviors and promote change
NARRATIVE THERAPY
Similar to transgenerational counseling, narrative therapy is 
a method that helps patients break away from the 
problematic behaviors they want to shed to become more 
supportive and healthier people.
The most significant difference between narrative and 
transgenerational therapies is that narrative therapy is more 
about breaking free from personal tension rather than 
generational problems causing strife with younger family 
members. For example, rather than unlearning generation 
beliefs and behaviors like in transgenerational therapy, a 
narrative therapist will challenge you to question the 
influences that make you doubt your value to your family.
SYSTEMIC FAMILY THERAPY
Systemic family therapy is one of the most common family 
therapy techniques offered. This counseling form views 
family dynamics as interconnected. So, if one member of 
the dynamic changes their perception and behaviors for 
the better, the rest of the group will benefit.
A systemic family therapist will question their patients’ 
knowledge of their relationships with relatives to shift their 
perceptions and actions. For example, the therapist might 
ask, “who does the most for the family,” and ask each 
member their response. Based on the reactions, a patient 
might recognize a disconnect between how they view their 
role in the group vs. how the group feels about them.
PSYCHOEDUCATION THERAPY
Psychoeducation is a therapy geared toward families with a 
member afflicted with a mental health condition. This 
method is similar to other family therapy techniques in how 
it aims to improve communication and understanding 
between family members but is more educational than 
traditional therapy.
In a psychoeducation session, a family therapist will teach 
you how to destigmatize mental illnesses and support the 
loved ones in your family with mental health conditions. 
Additionally, psychoeducation can give you a sense of what 
your family member is struggling with and help you connect 
with them in a healthy way that makes both parties feel 
safe and understood.
CONCLUSION ON FAMILY THERAPY TECHNIQUES
Family therapy is beneficial for bridging the gap 
between emotionally disconnected partners 
and family members. However, therapy is not a 
universal service, and those who sign up for ill-
fitting types of family therapy will not receive 
the intended benefits.
Contact Us...
For the best family counseling services in 
Perth you can contact us at:
82 Tenth Ave Inglewood WA 6052
Phone:   0414 897024
Website:
www.energeticsinstitute.com.au