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Introduction
Marriage issues and family conflicts are inseparable aspects of relationships, which is why they should be seen as developmental opportunities. The described approach also applies to the scenarios that involve confrontations due to the trauma experienced by a spouse, particularly, the one that manifests in the development of a dependency (Naghinasab et al. 3). The therapeutic framework for marriage and families, an approach that Susan Bowen developed for handling family and marriage issues, can be considered an important strategy for handling the situations in which one of the partners develops a dependency and requires support.
Differentiation of Self
In her MFT, Bowen introduces the concept of differentiation of self as one of the central principles of successful conflict management and cooperation for a married couple. According to Bowen, the phenomenon of differentiation of self can be explained as the ability and readiness to engage emotionally with family members, particularly, with ones spouse, while retaining a functional individual emotional capacity (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment 2). The ability to remain autonomous in ones emotional capacity in the context of marriage and family is especially important when addressing dependency issues of a spouse (McCollum and Trepper 57). Therefore, the use of the strategies that allow for differentiation of self will help a spouse to retain emotional health and the ability to respond to the respective needs of a husband or a wife.
Sibling Position
Being another vital aspect of Bowens MFT framework, the concept of the sibling position suggests that siblings tend to share similarities in the development of their marriage and family relationships, displaying similar patterns. Although the described phenomenon does not suggest that every minor detail is mirrored by siblings in their marriage and family interactions, it posits that specific patterns in relationships are easily identifiable. Remarkably, Bowen insisted that the similarities in sibling positions define whether an instance of divorce in one of the siblings family will entail a divorce in the other one. Thus, the sibling position suggests that similarities in upbringing and the shared time spent together increases the chances for siblings to demonstrate similarities in the patterns of their family interactions (Bridge 67). In the context of counseling families with one of the spouses suffering from substance misuse, the observed trend could signify the threat of a substance addiction in the life of a married sibling. However, in addition to increased threats, the opportunity for locating a suitable treatment strategy and effective therapy rises in case a similar approach has resolved a substance misuse issue in the siblings marriage.
Conclusion
Due to its focus on the unique experiences of couples, as well as the acute observations of interactions within families, in general, Bowens therapeutic framework deserves to be used as the means of supporting family couples that are experiencing difficulties in relationships, either due to substance misuse or for other reasons. The application of the specified technique will guide a couple toward a strategy that will help to build a supportive environment in which the cycle of codependency will break, and in which the spouses will be able to regain their emotional independence. At the same time, the MFT approach can be used to salvage the relationships and keep the marriage as each of the spouses recognizes the importance of a personal contribution and a joined effort in rebuilding the relationships within the family.
Works Cited
Bridge, Esra Nihan. Review of a Case Study in Light of Bowen Theory: Differentiation of Self. Ya_am Becerileri Psikoloji Dergisi, vol. 3, no. 5, 2019, pp. 65-72.
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Substance Abuse Treatment and Family Therapy. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 39. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 15-4219. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2004. Web.
McCollum, Eric E., and Terry S. Trepper. Family Solutions for Substance Abuse: Clinical and Counseling Approaches. Routledge, 2011.
Naghinasab Ardehaee, Fateme, Mahmoud Jajarmi, and Mohammad Mohammadipour. Effectiveness of Emotion Focused Couple Therapy on Marriage Function and Psychological Well-Being of Women with Marital Conflicts. Journal of Gorgan University of Medical Sciences, vol. 20, no. 3, 2018, pp. 1-10.
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