Counseling Tools

Paper Summary:

This paper presents four scenarios of families that require counseling. It describes the history and family scenario in point form and then discusses the reasons behind the choice of therapy. It discusses the goals and strategies for the therapy sessions, as well as the ideas for change. The paper then analyzes the role of the therapist in the counseling sessions.

Table of Contents:
Family 1
Problem
History
Tool
Family 2
Problem
History
Tool
Family 3
Problem
History
Tool
Family 4
Problem
History
Tool

From the Paper:

"The father will also learn how to interact with his son in therapy in a safe and non-threatening way. Once the father learns how to demonstrate his feelings for his son, the son will likely stop acting out because he will recognize his father's love for him and discover he does not have to act aggressively to seek the love he deserves. He will realize that teasing and taunting by other children (if this is a problem) results from the other child's own self-esteem issues, and not from any problem with the son or his family or his culture. By interacting with his son, the son will learn how to embrace his culture more and learn that communication and love are good for the family and necessary components of healthy relationships with others. This may also improve the family dynamic as a whole. The father may learn to demonstrate for example, more feelings for the mother and other members of the family. The mother may become more soothing and loving if the father feels safe offering his feelings to her. Once the family begins acting as a unit that communicates, they can then write down new goals for the family which may include being more expressive and open toward one-another. The father may also explain why long work hours are necessary, but also commit to spending more quality one-to-one time with his son and with other members of the family, so they do not feel neglected or feel they have to act out their feelings."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., Hoffman, L, Penn, P. (1987). Milan Systemic Family Therapy: Conversation in Theory and Practice. New York: Basic Books.
• Carruthers, M. (2007), "Systemic family therapy flowchart. Soulwork Systemic Coaching, Retrieved November 28, 2007: http://www.soulwork.net/sw_articles_eng/family_therapy.htm
• Mental Research Institute (MRI). Palo Alto, CA: Home Page. MRI, Retrieved November 28, 2007: http://www.mri.org/
• Pottenger, M. (2007). "Virginia Satir and Family Therapy," Los Angeles Religious Services, Retrieved November, 27, 2007: http://www.ccrsdodona.org/m_dilemma/1981/sag/satiraft.html
• Sexton, T., Weeks, G., & Robbins, M.S. (2003). Handbook of Family Therapy. New York: Brunner-Routlege.

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