The clinical pattern which describes a process of binding family members tightly and rigidly in an isolating system. For example, at adolescent separation, children may view themselves as too weak to leave the family and they are rewarded for staying home.

The clinical pattern which describes a process of expelling family members early and forcefully from the family system, particularly at the stage of adolescent separation. These family systems often lack internal attachment and cohesiveness, and the adolescent is compelled to try to find closeness with peers

A concept from systems theory which suggests that similar outcomes may result from different origins in contrast to the traditional cause-and-effect explanation

A concept from systems theory which defines the multiple possibilities of any event. This concept describes the principle that similar origins may result in different outcomes.

A concept developed by Murray Bowen which describes the process by which the levels of personal differentiation of the parents are passed on to their children. The levels of emotional functioning of the parents determine the differentiation of the children. This concept explains how a child may become the symptom bearer for the family.
This concept may also apply to the projection of family roles, values, and other attributes onto spouses or children

A concept from systems theory that describes the process whereby changes in the system may leave unaltered the underlying organization of that system. For family therapists, a clinical family may be said to undergo this when it adapts or accommodates- but does not change- its symptomatic functioning in response to therapeutic intervention. Thus the family may have been symptomatic one way, but it now may be in another

A concept from systems theory that describes the dynamic state of a system where one or more variables are stable and balanced. For example, in a family system, the interplay between marital conflict, a child's asthma attacks, and family harmony while the parents care for the sick child may be both stable and repetitive. A family therapist may intervene to disrupt this.

A concept from systems theory that describes when certain structural aspects of one system match the structural aspects of another. The family therapist may seek to match therapeutic role or style with that of the clinical family system.

A concept that describes an implicit and often nonverbal message which addresses the intent of the verbal message. The message may support the primary statement or contradict it. For example, a mother may tell her child to eat her soup and hand her the spoon. Handing the spoon is consistent with her verbal message. If the mother were to take the soup away if would contradict her primary statement.

A form of accommodation and joining from Structural Family Therapy whereby the family therapist mirrors the family's style, tempo, and affect

A concept from systems theory which describes the tendency of a system to evolve and change its structure.

A concept from systems theory which describes the emergence of a system's organizational patterns which leads to knowledge about the system.

A clinical intervention where the family therapist offers a message to the family which is both internally inconsistent and contradictory. The multiple or contradictory meanings that are presented to a family have the intent of challenging rigid perceptions or perturbing and unbalancing the system. The family therapist expects the family to resist the directive in a manner that change may occur. For example, a therapist may prescribe an escalation of the family's symptoms or explain to the family that it is best not to get better right now.

A theoretical movement that emerged in the family therapy field in the 70's and 80's. This approach believes that factors such as gender, ethnicity, political and economic forces are critical and need to be incorporated in the conceptualization process. This approach is more eclectic than modernism and tries to incorporate ideas outside of family therapy. It looks at different perspectives, blend theory and therapy, and examines macro processes

The family systems dynamic by which members perceive and mark distinctions in their interactions with one another. Each partner believes that what she or he says was caused by what the other had said. For example, a husband and wife in conflict may report: "She nags me so I withdraw" and "He withdraws so I nag him." These different statements have the same interactional process.

A contract between two individuals in which each gives to the other a certain favor or recognition and receives in turn a similar favor of relatively equal value. Family therapists often see these as subtle rules within families that are the result of bargaining to protect sensitive issues or secrets.
In Behavior Family Therapy, these contracts may be negotiated as a means of changing behavior patterns in accordance with each partner's wishes.

A clinical intervention which challenges a family's perception of a symptom or conflict both by relabeling it and altering the context in which it is perceived. For example, the "illness behavior" of an ADHD child is relabled in a new context which defines the behavior as being disobedient and disrespectful to the parents. This not only redefines the behavior from illness to disobedience, but it also defines the behavior in relation to the family system itself.

A concept from systems theory that describes the process of change in a system which alters the fundamental organization of the system. In family therapy a symptomatic system can be said to undergo this change when a therapeutic intervention fundamentally disrupts the pattern of symptomatic interaction so it ceases. The family's previous organization, which reinforced the symptomatic pattern, is replaced by different organization.

A concept from family systems theory which describes the basic structural units within the nuclear family system- spousal, parent-child, sibling.

A family dynamic, often represented by rigid triadic relationship between two parents and a child, in which each parent demands that the child side with them in a conflict. The child may become paralyzed because, no matter what response is given, he or she will be perceived as betraying one of the parent's expectations.
This term can also refer to any triad in which the conflict between two members pulls in a third member in such a way that the latter is immobilized in a loyalty conflict.