A family of origin workshop: process and evaluation. The Family Journal: Counselling and Therapy for Couples and Families

This study examined the effectiveness of family of origin therapy as experienced in a workshop format. The Family of Origin Workshop is a 6-hour session that strives for the goal of increasing personal authority. A description of the workshop is included. Statistically significant results between pretest and posttest scores were obtained for the Intergenerational Individuation and Spousal Individuation scales. Participants reported increased ability to individuate. A schema for the achievement of personal authority is proposed as one possible explanation for the relational pattern that occurs in this maturation process. Participants attribute changes resulting from the Family of Origin Workshop to content-oriented variables. Family of origin can be conceptualized as the living unit inwhich a person has his or her beginnings physiologically, psychically, and emotionally (Hovestadt, Anderson, Piercy, Cochran, & Fine, 1985). Accordingly, it is within the context of the family of origin experiences that people’s current self-image, values, behaviors, attitudes, and style of relating to others develops. To varying degrees throughout life, these early experiences continue to influence growth and develop-ment in these areas. In light of the emerging body of other therapy-outcome studies, this exploratory study examines the experiences of participants in the Family of Origin Workshop and begins the process of evaluating its effectiveness. Effectiveness is defined as higher levels of personal authority. It is hypothe-sized that participation in this workshop helped participants to grow in personal authority