If a Satir-oriented therapist said, "I believe this child's exaggerated acting out and drug use may serve to reduce tension in his parent's marriage by getting his parents to focus on him." What would the therapist be doing?

a. determining the family life chronology

b. figuring out the survival stance of the family

c. viewing the symptoms as having a role in the family system

d. using a mandala to understand the child's drug use

The answer is C - Viewing the symptoms as having a role in the family system

Explanation:

The Satir-oriented therapy is based on the Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy (STST) which can also be known as the Satir Method. This method was designed to improve family relationship and communication among themselves by addressing their emotions, actions, how they perceive things and situations, as they relate to each other's dynamic within the family unit.

The family is a whole unit therefore the individuals of the family can not be understood in separation from one another but rather as part of the family. The therapist is suggesting that the parents are not focused on the child and his acting out and drug use may serve to reduce tension and get his parents to focus on him, this views the symptom as having a role in the family system