Psychology

This assignment provides the opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to apply the concepts covered throughout the course. This assignment MUST be typed, double-spaced, in APA style, 7th edition, and must be written at graduate level English. You must integrate the material presented in the text and cite your work according to APA format. Please use all chapters in the text to add depth to your responses.

Culture, Diversity and Legal/Ethical considerations are required. Please integrate factors relevant to culture and diversity in your discussions of each vignette. Identify and discuss legal and ethical issues present in each vignette. [This information can be found in Part I as well as in chapters throughout the course text]. You are also encouraged to use outside cultural resources to enhance your understanding.

Use the Case of Stan and Case of Gwen as a guide to theoretical application, referencing in APA style.

Your response to each vignette should be 1-2 pages per vignette for a total of 5-6 pages for the entire assignment plus a title and reference page.
Do not copy and paste the vignettes into your written response

Vignette Six
The Kline family consists of Gail and George, both in their early 40’s, their two daughters, Jessie, 10, Jaimi, 12 and their son Gary, age 16. Gary is on probation for using and selling drugs on campus. The court ordered him to undergo therapy. It was suggested that the entire family be involved in family therapy.
According to George, the one who is responsible for the family’s problems is his wife, who, he says, is an alcoholic. George, a businessman who does a great deal of traveling, is convinced that he is doing all he can to hold the family together. He comments that he is a good provider and that he does not understand why Gail insists on drinking. He feels that Gary has gotten everything that he ever wanted, and he maintains that the young people of today are “just spoiled rotten.” The father says that his eldest daughter, Jaimi, is the best one of the bunch, and he has no complaints about her. He sees her as being more responsible than his wife. He views his younger daughter, Jessie, as pampered and spoiled by her mother, and he has little hope for her.
George is willing to give family counseling a try and says he hopes that the therapist can straighten them all out. Jaimi doesn’t want to come, because she is not the problem. Gary is very reluctant to appear, even for one session, because he feels sure that the others in the family will see him as the source of their problems. To satisfy the conditions of his probation, Gary would rather see a therapist privately, regardless of what the court wants.

Assume that this family comes to you for counseling and that all you know about them is what they told you above. Answer the following questions on how you might proceed with this family within an Family Systems Therapy frame of reference:

1. If you believed in the value of seeing the family as a unit, how might you go about getting the entire family to come in? Assume that all agreed to attend one session. What would be your focus, and what would you most want to achieve in this family session?

2. What are the key dynamics of the family as a system? How you would work with this family, discussing any problems that you might expect to encounter?

ANSWER

Vignette S

The central focus of the therapeutic process is to ensure the family is united and strong. As the therapist, one should communicate the role of the family unit as a primary socializing factor. For example, children learn appropriate values and feel secure being brought up in a united family. The therapist should ensure everyone understands their roles in the unit. Attending one session as a family unit helps accelerate the attainment of positive outcomes because everyone is keen to address prevailing challenges. The welfare of the family as a whole depends on the successful handling of each member’s limitations. As Stratton (2016) states, clients in a family setting have a wide range of psychological and relationship difficulties. Addressing each client’s needs, concerns, and interests provides an opportunity to create a viable family environment. The therapeutic process focuses on ensuring every member is aware of their limitations, consequences, and expected behavior change for the family’s well-being. Unity and togetherness are crucial elements expected to be attained during the session.

Families are dynamic with hierarchies, roles, and ascribed characteristics playing a crucial role in determining interaction patterns. Parental and sibling relationships have a lasting effect on children’s developmental process (Plamondon, Bouchard & Lachance-Grzela, 2018). Understanding family dynamics assists in improving relationships among members. Working with the Kline Family calls for understanding the evident dynamics to provide the therapist with a quality approach to issues presented by all the members. Prior preparation is vital, and an excellent approach adopted when dealing with Gary, who feels as if he plays a paramount role in the family problems. The therapist might encounter issues such as disagreements and blame-game in the session.

Overall, the family therapeutic case highlights issues such as responsibility and informed consent. An intervention perspective might not suit everyone’s desires and interests, and this challenges the therapist. Some family members might not be willing to undergo any form of treatment to counter their issues. For instance, Gray has previously used drugs and might refute any treatment approach.

References

Plamondon, A., Bouchard, G., & Lachance-Grzela, M. (2018). Family dynamics and young adults’ well-being: The mediating role of sibling bullying. Journal of interpersonal violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518800313

Stratton, P. (2016). The evidence base of family therapy and systemic practice. Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice UK.