Key Concepts of Experiential Therapy

In-Session Experiences
Experiential family therapy focuses on in-session experiences and expression of emotions to achieve growth and change in a family. Rather than explicitly talking about conflict, this type of therapy uses in-session experiences to address a family’s problems (Tuttle, 1998). This approach also looks at a family’s problems as an issue of emotional suppression, seeing how this can create tension, distress and conflict amongst a family (Nichols & Davis, 2020).

Emotional Expression and Family Awareness
Experiential therapy works from the inside out, allowing the members of the family to get in touch with their true and honest emotions first, then moving more into how these emotions tie into the family as a whole. Often times, the family is not ready to open up and share their emotions freely when they begin therapy. Therefore, the primary goals of experiential family therapy are to increase the family’s ability to be aware of and express their emotions, as well as to encourage flexibility in the family members’ response to problems that arise (Tuttle, 1998). Lastly, the experiential approach often times focus on the individual roles of the members within the family and focuses less on the family as a whole (Nichols & Davis, 2020).

Textual Terminology
Family Myths: Beliefs based on the family's shared perception of events. This mythology forms a basis for family structure and rules.

Mystification: The tendency for parents to deny their children's experiences through misinterpretation, mislabeling, or reframing.

Self-Actualization: The tendency of an individual to move towards becoming the most fulfilling version of themselves. This can development can run against the family structure (Nichols & Davis 2020).

Virginia Satir Explains
Virginia Satir and the Principles of Therapy

Continued
The Role of the Experiential Therapist