ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors describe some enduring family therapy concepts and practices related to experiential family therapy, including communication, identifying and sharing emotions, use of experiential interventions, and therapist’s use of self. They illustrate how therapists can integrate principles of sociocultural attunement into experiential approaches to broaden awareness of self and others in societal context. The authors argue that it is not possible to fully understand ourselves —how one think, feel, and act—without realizing the impact of culture, societal systems, and power dynamics on our everyday lives. They offer a set of guidelines for considering human potential within societal context and explore the role of power dynamics in emotion and emotional expression. The authors share a case illustration to demonstrate an application of socioculturally attuned experiential family therapy that integrates societal systems and attention to power in ways that can lead to first, second, and third order change.
