With that goal in mind, she developed the Satir Growth Model, a comprehensive set of beliefs, methods, tools, and experiential exercises that support positive change in individuals, family systems, organizations and communities.

The Satir Growth Model aims to effect lasting change in individuals by:

• enhancing awareness and understanding of communication patterns
• discovering family of origin learnings and coping patterns
• building self-esteem
• expanding self discovery and self responsibility
• diagnosing dysfunctional dynamics and reshaping relationships
• enhancing congruence and tapping internal resources for external change

The following poem by Virginia Satir illustrates her perspective of family therapy:

Although Satir's theory is primarily identified with the communication theory and an experiential approach, her therapy defies being categorized with any one approach. Satir therapy embodies the major tenets of all the schools of family therapy. Her work with triads and sculpting deal with boundary and hierarchical issues in the such family theories as structural and strategic.

Satir rationalized that the primary goal of the family therapist is to deal with family pain. According to Satir, family pain manifests itself in the symptoms of one family member but extends itself to all family members in some shape or form. Satir distinguished the family member who carries the predominant symptom as the "Identified Patient," or "I.P.".

Satir believed that a pained marital relationship is likely to result in dysfunctional parenting patterns. In effect, the I.P. is the family member who is most affected by the pained marital relationship and most subjected to dysfunctional parenting. Satir defined the I.P.'s symptoms as an "SOS" regarding his parents' pain and the resulting family imbalance.

Satir described the family as an interacting unit that strives to achieve balance in relationships through the use of repetitious, circular, and predictable communication patterns. This phenomenon is known as family homeostasis. Satir described the spousal mates as the architects of the family and contended that the marital relationship is the axis around which all other family relationships are formed. Thus, family homeostasis is directly influenced by the marital relationship.

Satir defined a person with low self-esteem as having a great sense of anxiety and uncertainty about himself. Thus, individuals suffering from low self-esteem tend to be more concerned with what others think of them and less concerned with how they feel about themselves. Satir contended that this lack of self confidence results in a dependence on others and cripples personal autonomy and individuality.

In relation to family therapy, Satir explained that in the dysfunctional family triangle the mates lack confidence in their own marital relationship and already feel left out with each other. Because they are disappointed in the different-ness of each other, each mate begins to look toward the child to satisfy his unfulfilled needs. According to Satir, the child is then forced to side with one parent and to lose the other. In effect, the child who is identified as the I.P. is burdened with the responsibility of living for his parents.

Satir believed that through becoming aware of his or herself, the therapist will have access to more creative and flexible ways to authentically connect with the individual. Satir believed that "while therapists facilitate and enhance patients' ability and need to grow, they should at the same time be aware that they have the same ability and need."

Satir suggested that a deep self-knowledge and confidence are necessary aspects of the therapist's ability to be conscious of self. She described this as "being fully present in the moment, as the personhood of the therapist is not shed at the office door but brought into each and every interaction." In effect, Satir considered the use of self to be one of the most important instruments for change.

References
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