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Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy pp 1090–1094Cite as

Family of Origin Intervention in Couple and Family Therapy

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Name of the Strategy of Intervention

Family of Origin Intervention

Introduction

Family of origin work refers to the exploration of interactions and underlying familial patterns and their impact on individuals within the family of origin. Family of origin intervention considers multigenerational influence and consists of a multitude of techniques to treat dysfunction within the family system. Accordingly, one’s family of origin consists of the immediate siblings and parents or caretakers present during childhood. Essentially, patterns of emotional reactivity and conflict management have an influence on the way one interacts with the family of origin and world outside the family system (Brown 1999).

Theoretical Framework

The theoretical framework on which family of origin interventions are built resides predominantly on the salient work of psychiatrist Murray Bowen and his theory of family systems, which explains that individuals have an innate urge for closeness with others and...

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References

  • Becvar, D., & Becvar, R. (2009). Family therapy: A systemic integration (7th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education.

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  • Bowen, M. (1978). Family therapy in clinical practice. New York: Jason Aronson.

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  • Brown, J. (1999). Bowen family systems theory and practice: Illustration and critique. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 20(2), 94–103.

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  • Gilbert, R. (1992). Extraordinary relationships: A new way of thinking about human interactions. Minneapolis: Chronimed Publishing.

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  • MacKay, L. (2012). Trauma and Bowen family systems theory: Working with adults who were abused as children. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 33(3), 232–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGoldrick, M., Gerson, R., & Shellenberger, S. (1999). Genograms: Assessment and interventions (2nd ed.). New York: Norton.

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  • Richardson-Hare, E., Canada, R., & Lim, M. (1998). Application of Bowen theory with a conflictual couple. Family Therapy, 25, 3. San Diego: Libra Publishers.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Daniel T. Ennaco

Authors
  1. Daniel T. Ennaco
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel T. Ennaco .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Jay L. Lebow

  2. The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Anthony L. Chambers

  3. The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Douglas C. Breunlin

Section Editor information

  1. Alliant International University, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Molly F. Gasbarrini

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Ennaco, D.T. (2019). Family of Origin Intervention in Couple and Family Therapy. In: Lebow, J.L., Chambers, A.L., Breunlin, D.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_364

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