Systemic and Reflexive Case Analysis Tool

Case Code: Date: Notes:

(SrCAT)

Systemic Concept
System focus

How/ Where do I see this concept in the family?

How am I using / How can I use this concept with the family?

Circularity

Identified Patterns

Language and Narrative

Power and Control

Roles

Boundaries and Limits

Cultural Context

Life Cycle

Neutrality Therapeutic Alliance

Resources and Strenghts

Systemic Hyphotesis
Ferreira, Ferreira, Mendes, Costa, Narciso & Cabrita (2009) BETA VERSION

Systemic and Reflexive Case Analysis Tool Suggestions on how to use SrCAT:

(SrCAT)

1. The SRCAT was desig ned to help beginning family psychologists/therapists to analyse and conceptualize their first clinical cases, in a systemic and reflexive manner, something that doesnt come off easily during the first months or years of clinical practice. This tool attempts to incorporate some of the main guiding principles of systemic and family psychology and therapy so that the therapist can clearly and graphically see these concepts applied to the specific clinical case. 2. This is a beta version, meaning that no studies support its use or benefits, and you should only use it at your own therapeutic risk. The best tool ever invented to deal with the confusing haze of being a therapistis the therapist! 3. The guiding principles of this t ol are inspired in o the works of sys temic therapists/psychologists/psychiatrists/professionals like Bateson, Watzlawick, Palazzoli, Cecchin, Boscolo, Prata, Hoffman, Minuchin, Auerswald, Haley, Madanes, White, Epston, de Shazer, Be rg, Satir, Whitaker, Andolfi, Selvini, Murray Bowen, Tomm, amongst others. The painfully short version of some on their ideas is bellow. For the real thing, please read their work!
a. System Focus: Refer to the micro, meso, exo, macro and crono systems surrounding the person (s), present in the ecosystem. Which lenses are you using? Might also refer to the properties of the system. b. Circularity: Refer to the way you are reflecting and directing the information, as well as the feedback and feedforward systems that you observe in the family/couple/individual. c. Pattern identification: refer to repetitive patterns on the familys behaviour, communication or attributions.

d. Language and Narrative: Refer to the main narratives in the family. Metaphors, digital and analogical language, efforts to de-construct the narratives. e. Power and Control: Refer to dominance, hierarchy, influence and helplessness within the family. Games, strategies, power straggles, alliances and triangulation who wins and who leads? The therapist power who follows you rules and why? How is the power channelled? Through which channels does it become explicit? f. Roles: What are the main positions or functions that certain individuals are attributed within or between the family? What is your role for the family? g. Boundaries and Limits: Refer to the rules that regulation the physical, emotional and psychological space in and between the supra mentioned systems. h. Cultural Context: include issues of gender, ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status, religion, etc. i. j. Life Cycle: Refer to the life stages or transition of the family/couple/individual Neutrality: Refer to the way you are (or arent) creating an alliance to all the members or just some members or the family. Are you being seduced by one or more members of the family? k. Therapeutic alliance: The co-construction of the relationship with the family. Therapist shadow areas. l. Resources and strengths: Include positive features that you observe or even negative one if you can reframe them to have a positive purpose or function. The capacity, even a residual one, to cooperate. Empathy between family members. m. Systemic Hypotheses: What do you think its happening here? i.e.: Minuchins hypothesis criteria or Palazzolis.

4. We believe that this Tool is best used after youve been with the family/couple/individual for at least 3 or 4 sessions, so that you have gathered enough information (not just data) to conceptualize your ideas in way that it will be productive and useful for the family. Some colleagues have suggested that it could be used in every post session. 5. Feel free to use this beta version, to change it and especially to send us comments or suggestions to luanacunhaferreira@gmail.com. Was it useful? How did you use it? What changes did you made?
Ferreira, Ferreira, Mendes, Costa, Narciso & Cabrita (2009) BETA VERSION