Mickel Hoback

Family Emotional Systems Theory

After reading Chapter 5 in the text it appeared to me that the Family Emotional Systems Theory could be applied to nearly every clinical situation such as emotional dysfunction in children, alcoholism, divorce, depression and many other disorders. After more reading on this theory it appears it could also work with a pair of counselors such as when treating gender-related issues or to serve as a role model for family members. The text stated that the Family Emotional Systems Theory is a theory of human behavior that views the family as an emotional unit and uses systems thinking to describe the complex interactions in the unit. It is the nature of a family that its members are intensely connected. I do think that all too often counselors want to explain away incidents or actions their clients report with having something to do with their parents or other family members but there are cases that really do factor in one’s family. I believe no matter how well your marriage or relationship may be going almost every couple could benefit from the use of this theory because it emphasizes such factors as relationship and communication patterns rather than traits or symptoms in individual members. All too often couples believe they don’t need counseling and then wonder what happened when the relationship goes south or fails to progress. It appears this might be able to be used as more of a preventive measure much like getting a tune up on your vehicle and not waiting until the engine blows up to open the hood and look at it and try and fix it. I do believe I could and would use this with my clients. This theory such as all the others may work well with client’s and their families however, incorporating several different types of strategies together would probably have a much larger impact when working with client’s.