Stability and change in couples therapy : an action research process
Loading...
Authors
Strydom, Hester Maria
Issue Date
2001-01
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Stability and change , Action research , Cybernetic epistemology , Second cybernetics , Systemic epistemology , Wholeness , Hypothesizing , Circularity , Neutrality , Feedback , Self reference , Autonomy
Alternative Title
Abstract
This study focuses on the cybernetic complementarity of stability and change in family
therapy. Stability and change involve both the client and therapist, and is a selfreferential
process where the observer is part of that which is observed.
One couple was involved in ten therapy sessions. During the action research cycles of
planning, acting and reflecting, the principles of systems theory, cybernetics and second
cybernetics were implemented. A team consisting of one lecturer and two students were
actively involved throughout all the phases of the research process.
During therapy, the therapist focused on stability to facilitate change in the structure of
the couple's organizational system. The research served as a good example of how
punctuation of two complementarity processes (stability and change) can enable and
empower clients to autonomously reflect on their own behaviour, and to make decisions
regarding patterns they would like or feel ready to change.
Description
Citation
Strydom, Hester Maria (2001) Stability and change in couples therapy : an action research process, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/16134>