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Clinical teams reflect family dysfunction
Author(s) -
Berkowitz Ruth,
Leff Julian
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1467-6427
pISSN - 0163-4445
DOI - 10.1046/j.1467-6427.1984.00637.x
Subject(s) - phenomenon , value (mathematics) , psychology , family therapy , psychotherapist , social psychology , cognitive psychology , computer science , epistemology , philosophy , machine learning
Therapists frequently have strong negative reactions to their patients. The view is put forward in this paper that such reactions may be harmful to patients if they are not acknowledged. However, when we, as therapists, are able to recognize our own reactions, they could prove to be a valuable source of information about those people we are trying to help. Three cases are described in which clinical teams behaved in negative ways towards families, who, as a result, did not receive the appropriate treatment. These descriptions are an attempt to show how the teams' behaviour mimicked that of the family. It is suggested, firstly, that these reactions should be recognized so they cannot hinder treatment and, secondly, that they be used as a source of information about the interaction within the family. This phenomenon of reflecting family dysfunction may, if properly approached, be of potential value to those who work in teams and deal with families.