013-01: Integrating Postmodern Therapy Into Qualitative Research: Guiding Theory Into Methods

Recent attention has been paid and innovation explored in qualitative data collection and analysis. Epistemology, philosophy, memoing, reflexivity, and openness of the researcher are imperative to the practice of qualitative research. However, in these practices, other characteristics of the researcher are seldom discussed. This workshop will draw from postmodern theories of counseling and marriage and family therapy and apply therapist characteristics to the researcher’s methods and approach to inquiry. This paper argues that the researcher and therapist have strong similarities. A qualitative researcher, with traits similar to a therapist, can expand the process of research, collecting and analyzing rich data.

013-02: Structured Experiential Theory: Combining Structural and Experiential Family Therapy

We can build healthier families. Families have inherent structures to how they operate. How that structure is set up—be it rigid, diffuse or clear boundaries, enmeshment or disengaged (Minuchin, 1974)—impacts a family’s ability to handle change. Family members experience themselves and their relatives through this structure. Healthier families can break free of their old ways of interacting and adapt to transitions and shifts when problems arise. Here I combine Structural Family Therapy (SFT) with Symbolic Experiential Family Therapy (SEFT) to approach a more holistic understanding of families. It is a freedom within limits that then allows for the most optimal family functioning.