ABSTRACT
This chapter explores two of the most significant intergenerational approaches—Bowen's Family systems theory (BFST) and Nagy's Contextual family therapy. BFST therapy is not about a specific goal, such as decreasing depression or reducing conflict, but an overall increase in human functioning—an increase in self-differentiation. Therapists usually start by gaining an understanding of the larger family system. Constructing a genogram with people, in a first session, tends to decrease the anxiety in the room and provides the message that therapy will focus on people being able to think and be reflective. Therapists pay particular attention to the emotional process occurring between family members rather than on the content of their talk. Contextual therapists adopt a position of multidirected partiality, that they consider the perspective of each person in the family, even those who are not present. Contextual therapists strive for family members to have genuine dialogue, an exchange based on equity.
