Marriage & Family Therapy

Marriage & Family Therapy

Top reasons for Marriage & Family Counseling:

Communication

Sex

Finances

Parenting

In-laws

Providers of Marriage & Family Therapy

Those who provide Professional Marriage & Family Therapy

Psychiatrist

Psychologist

License Professional Counselor

License Master Social Worker

License Marriage and Family Counselor

Minister/Biblical Counselor

Biblical Foundation of Marriage & Family Therapy “Just as iron sharpens iron, so on one man

sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:7). In other words, intimate relationships redeems our fallen nature.

Marriage and Family, God’s first created institution, was established on intimacy with God. After the fall, marriage and family, provide a God-ordained institution that reveals one’s deprived nature and offers a restorative setting.

Biblical Focus in Marriage & Family Therapy “From within, out of the heart of men,

proceed the evil thoughts, fornication, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man” Mark 7:21-23. In other words, our communication reveal our heart issues.

The Neuroscience Role in Marriage & Family Therapy Communication is affected by emotions

Emotions are influenced by the limbic system

Amygdala is the place for emotional memory.

Hippocampus is the site of detailed memory.

LeDoux said, “The hippocampus is crucial in

recognizing a face as that of your cousin, but it is the

amygdala that adds that you don’t really like her”.

The limbic system subconsciously directs thoughts and feelings.

Neuroscience cont.

The Limbic System works faster than the conscious “thinking brain” and “hijacks” the rational though processing of the frontal lobe.

When stressed the amygdala releases stress hormones that increase adrenaline and shut down the hippocampus (detailed memory).

Neuroscience cont.

Panksepp (1998) has identified 7 neurocortical pathways that are triggered by the subconscious “emotional hijacking”. He referred to the 7 neurocoritcal pathways as Executive Operating Systems.

7 EOS’s of Relationships

1) CARE + Nurture

2) Panic - Separate Distress

3) Play + Happy

4) Lust +/- Erotic/ Jealousy

5) Seeking +/- Interest/ Craving

6) Fear - Anxiety

7) Rage +/- Anger/ Contempt

Purpose of Marriage & Family Therapy

Marriage & Family Therapy has two purposes in a our fallen world: Intimacy

Reflection

Both of these purposes serve and reveal our relationship with God, the Heavenly Father.

Marriage and Family Therapy is an attempt to de-escalate emotional division so couples and families are able to experience this reality.

Many techniques, theories and skills may be utilized in the process.