ABSTRACT

There exists an inherent bias in the family therapy literature that there is something wrong with the old pattern that must be corrected with a new one. It is maintained across all theories, no matter how much they may diverge on other issues. For example, strategic therapy believes that problems are maintained by repetitive first-order change strategies, and are resolved by the use of second-order change that creates new patterns (Watziawick, Weakland, and Fisch, 1974). Transgenerational therapists state that low levels of differentiation and high levels of anxiety lead to rigid interactions that maintain problems, while raising differentiation and lessening anxiety yields new transgenerational patterns which, in turn, resolves problems (Bowen, 1978; Kerr and Bowen, 1988). Further, White and Epston (1990) believe that problems are maintained due to the oppression of a dominant story that must be overthrown through the recognition of alternative stories. Finally, (Minuchin 1974 Minuchin and Fishman, 1981) states that problems are best solved through creating a new family structure. No matter the theoretical orientation, and no matter the wording, there is a belief that old patterns are bad and new patterns are good.