Object Relations Family Therapy: Articulating the Inchoate

Abstract

In recent years there has been a renewed interest in psychodynamic ideas within the family therapy literature. While some authors have explored the usefulness of psychodynamic concepts in the systemic context (Byng‐Hall, 1995; Flaskas, 1993, 1996; Luepnitz, 1988, 1997), others have argued that psychodynamic models of family therapy should be given more credence in systemic work with families (Guttman, 1991). This paper describes Object Relations Family Therapy (ORFT), a psychoanalytic model of family therapy, in plain English in order to minimise the obscurity of some of the existing terminology and to emphasise the utility of more contemporary formulations. ORFT addresses the interface between psychoanalytic and systemic theories. It offers a way of conceptualising complex family dynamics at both the interpersonal and intrapsychic levels. It also integrates an understanding of nonverbal, unstated and often implicit processes in its formulation of problem development. The unique contribution of ORFT is elaborated using a clinical example.

Minding the Gap not Bridging the Gap: Family Therapy From a Psychoanalytic Perspective

“…In other words, there is not only a relationship between a patient and a therapist to be considered, but also the patient's internal objects will exert an influence. A recent paper by Stiefel et al (1998) goes some way towards describing this. All too commonly the trap is that the therapist/patient relationship represents the patient/internal object relationship with no reflective space for the therapist.…”

A thematic review of the family therapy journals of 1998

“…Greenberg in an interview (Webster, 1998) described his view that emotions are 'meaning making' and therefore therapists should attend to the expression of emotion and to the subtle changes of this expression. This interview recalled some of the attempts at rapprochement between systemic therapy and other therapies which also appeared in 1998 (Crago, 1998;Stiefel et al, 1998). Greenberg repeats his view that the therapeutic alliance is a core phenomenon for change but also that his research suggests that the resolution of emotional tasks predicts good outcome.…”

A Perpetual Search for the Idealized Lost Loved Object: An Object-relations Reading of Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love

“…In Winnicott's discussion, "'good enough' refers to a constellation of qualities of care. It includes an awareness of the psychological and physical needs of the infant and implies a consistent, reliable and predictable response to the infant's needs" (Stiefel et al, 1998). In fact, Winnicott (2005) declares that, "the initiation of a relationship between the child and the world is made possible by good-enough mothering at the early critical phase".…”