Families' experience of harmony and disharmony in systemic psychotherapy and its effects on family life

Abstract

Family harmony is highly valued by Asian families. This qualitative study sets out to explore the contribution that harmony makes to therapy. Four Singaporean Chinese family members, a mother and daughter from one family, and a sister and brother from another, were interviewed about harmony and disharmony. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to make sense of the in‐depth interviews. The results suggested that family harmony was important and was defined as harmonious co‐existence in family life. Systemic psychotherapy sessions successfully influenced the family members' experience of harmony and disharmony with other members and contributed to harmony in therapy and family life. Lastly, the participants detailed the links between harmony or disharmony and systems at the individual, family and sociocultural levels. The findings highlight the fact that therapists who work with families of Asian origin need to understand how harmony is perceived by them. Asking reflexive questions from an authoritative position that is respectful of clients is recommended to contribute to self‐healing in disharmonious families. Furthermore, therapists may wish to use aspects of individual, family and sociocultural systems that can contribute to family harmony.

Co‐constructing family therapy in the Asian Chinese family diasporas of mainland China, Malaysia, Macau, Singapore and Taiwan

“…Parents’ expectations that their children will comply with the family's spoken or unspoken rules may lead to family conflicts, which are often dealt with in a passive manner. The lack of willingness to talk openly about differences and challenges in the family might lead to ‘social harmony’ but not ‘personal harmony’ (Yap and Tan, , p. 304). Family harmony and loyalty can be a strength in that members stick with one another through difficulties but it can also be a constraint as there is less permission for expression and negotiation of differences.…”

“…Respecting the hierarchy and decision‐making processes in the family (Yap and Tan, ) helps when listening and attending to all members of the family, so that each person's perspective can be articulated and heard, and similarities and differences can be discussed. At times, it may be helpful for the family to be made aware of unhelpful repeated patterns, or to be given permission to disagree, as this can create space for negotiation and for necessary changes to take place.…”

Clients’ perspectives on therapists who build family and personal harmony

“…Similarly, intrapersonal harmony could be marginalised in families where the dominant discourse is about interpersonal harmony. In one qualitative study on Singaporean family members’ experience with systemic psychotherapy, all four participants spontaneously mentioned that family harmony was important (Yap and Tan, ). Within this cultural context, some systemic psychotherapists might have a legitimate worry that individuals may sacrifice their own harmony for the family.…”

Maintaining Harmony of Life in Skipped-Generation Households of the Older Adults

“…Optimism is a key contributor to subjective well-being because it fosters self-esteem and relationship harmony (Leung, Moneta, & McBride-Chang, 2005). In addition, it was found that a well-being is significantly determined by a harmonious relationship with others (Yap & Tan, 2011).…”