Posted: September 5th, 2022

Comparison between Bowenian, Structural, and Person-Centered Therapy

Comparison between Bowenian, Structural, and Person-Centered Therapy
Individuals and families face different challenges; these problems affect their functioning. Structural and bowenian therapy are both family therapy. Family therapy is a branch of psychotherapy that focuses on change and development in families. Person-centered therapy deals with individuals. Before embarking on treatment, it is essential to choose a counselor that you like.
Person-centered therapy
As the name suggests, person-centered therapy focuses on the person. It is more of how an individual consciously perceives themselves. Person-centered therapy is also known as client-centered therapy. It allows the person to speak about their experiences as the counselor listens. The counselor should show empathy; they should not be judgmental. That signals acceptance to the person.
The person-centered therapy aims at self-actualization. As one goes through specific experiences in life, they affect their self-worth leading to low self-value. This approach allows the person to express the experience, relieve their feelings, and regain self-awareness to progress in life. Person-centered therapy is essential to people of all ages. Clients find it appealing because they get to control the content and pace of the sessions. It not only aids in raising awareness but also establishing healthy relationships with others. Person-centered therapy enables individuals to learn how to express themselves better.
Structural therapy
Salvador Minuchin founded structural therapy; it addresses problems in families by establishing weak links in family interactions. It is convenient for a single parent, blended and extended families. It views mental issues as a result of dysfunctional families; its core goal is to restore the family’s functioning.
It seeks to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress through establishing effective communication. The counselor begins by drawing a chart that shows the relationships, boundaries, and hierarchy of a family. That helps them determine the necessary intervention. Structural therapy seeks to restructure the family to establish healthier family relationships.
Bowenian therapy
Murray Bowen developed bowenian therapy. It perceives family problems as a sign of dysfunctional families. According to Bowen, two forces cause family problems; togetherness and individuality. Too much emotional attachment to the family leads to the loss of personal identity.
More individuality leads to loss of togetherness. Differentiation is necessary to balance these two forces. Therapists view the family as a system; change in one part leads to change in the whole. They can apply bowenian therapy to unite members detached from families. This approach believes that individuals are better understood based on family relationships.

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