1. Couples and
Family
Counseling
CPS-508
Instructor: Sarah Spiegelhoff
Adam Schwartz
Susan Brockway
2. Defining The Family
Those persons who are Biologically
and/or Psychologically related
through historical, emotional, or
economical bonds and who
perceive themselves to be part of a
household.
-Gladding, 2007
3. Key Characteristics
of The Family
Nonsummativity- Is greater than the sum
of it’s parts.
Individual
Members
Patterns
between
members
Nonsummative
Whole
4. Key Characteristics (Cont.)
Equifinality- Similar Family patterns can
arise from varying origins just as similar
origins can result in differing family
patterns.
Family
Pattern
x
Origin
A
Origin
B
Origin
Family
Pattern
Z
C Origin
A
Family
Pattern
W
Family
Pattern
X
Family
Pattern
Y
5. Key Characteristic (Cont.)
Communication- All behavior is the result
of interpersonal messages
Content- Factual information
Relationship- How the information is delivered
Value of Communication
Content Delivery
6. Key Characteristic (Cont.)
Family Rules
Rules Structures- Explicit and implicit rules
governing action of family members.
Roles Sub-systems- Expectations regarding
individual behavior and responsibilities of
members
Boundaries- Invisible barriers that regulate
amount and type of contact between
individual members.
7. Key Characteristics (Cont.)
Morphogenesis- The ability a system to remain
self-directed and modify it’s patterns to under
new circumstances in order to remain stable.
(positive feedback loop)
Ex. If a father returned to school then certain
adjustments are allowed for such as giving him
uninterrupted study time and functioning on less
disposable income in order to maintain family
stability.
8. Key Characteristic (Cont.)
Homeostasis- The tendency of a family to
remain stable unless forced to change.
When a member upsets the balance of
homeostasis, the other members react in
order to maintain balance. (negative
feedback loop)
Ex. Staging an intervention for a family
member abusing substances.
9. 1. Unattached Adult- Differentiation from family of
origin/Initiation of Career/ Development of peer relations
2. Newly Married Adults- Making room for spouse with family
and friends/ Adjusting Career demands/ Formation of
marital system
3. Childbearing Adults- Adjusting marriage to make room for
child/ Taking on parental roles/ Making room for
grandparents
Gladding & Newsome 2010
10. 4. Preschool-age Child- Adjusting family to the need of specific child(ren)/
Taking time as a couple/ Coping with energy drain and lack of energy
5. School-age Child- Extending family/society interaction/ Encouraging the
child’s educational progress/ Dealing with increased activities and time
demands
6. Teenage Child-Shifting the balance in the parent-child
relationship/Refocusing on midlife career and marital issues/ Dealing with
increased concerns for older generation
Gladding & Newsome 2010
11. 7. Launching Center-Releasing adult children into work , college, marriage/
Maintaining supportive home base/ Accepting occasional returns of adult
children
8. Middle-aged Adults- Rebuilding the marriage/ Welcoming children’s
spouses, grandchildren into family/ Dealing with aging of one’s own
parents
9. Retired Adults-Supporting middle generation/Maintaining individual and
couple functioning/Closing or adapting family home
Gladding& Newsome 2010
12. Varieties of Family Formations
Type
Minority Ethnic
Dual-Career
Single-Parent
Childless
Particular Stressors
Biases, Misunderstandings,
Stereotyping
Conflict and stress between work and
family responsibilities, Gender-typing
Financial hardships,
underemployment, Availability of
social support
Fertility issues, Stigmatization,
Mourning of children never had
13. Varieties of Family Formations
Type
Remarried
Gay & Lesbian
Aging
Multigenerational
Military
Particular Stressors
Developing new roles and
new rules
Traditional Concerns,
Internalized Homophobia,
Lack of Societal Validation
Health concerns, Relaunching
of adult children, Aging
parents moving in with adult
children
Space restrictions, Economic
restrictions, Stress on parent
subunit
Frequent uprooting,
Dangerous deployments,
International affairs
14. Family Structure
Rules/Structures-Taken from societal
norms to help form initial interactions and
may become modified by resulting
emergence of sub-systems’ interaction.
Roles/Sub-systems-Determined by initial
interactions and once established shape
future interactions.
Boundaries-Determinations of the amount
and type of contact between the
subsystems.
17. Family Imbalance- Cohesion
Enmeshed Vs.
Diffuse sub-system
boundaries
High in support at the
expense of
independence.
Leads to trouble
relating to others
outside the system.
Disengaged
Results from solid
boundaries between
sub-systems.
Leaves individuals
isolated.
Limits nurturing and
affection.
18. Family Imbalance- Adaptability
Chaotic Vs.
Allows little concern
for original parental
relationship
Leaves sub-systems’
expectations and
boundaries
undefined
Can lead to low self-esteem
and
antisocial behavior in
children
Rigid
Can result in
emotional distance
between parents
and children
Leads to an inability
to deal with the
unexpected
Can stifle curiosity
and a sense
competence.
19. J.A.M.R. Counseling Model
Joins family-Counselor and Family get to know each
other and rapport is built.
Assessment-What brings them in, Each person
presents from their own point of view.
Monitoring-Counselor watches to see how this
proceeds and observes sub-system interactions.
Restructuring-A more harmonious set of rules, roles,
and boundaries begins to be constructed.
20. Theoretical Approaches to
Family Counseling
Social-learning
Based on the premise that we learn behavior
by observing and modeling others.
A deficit or excess of learned behavior is at
the core of the problem.
Self-reports, communication-enhancement,
contracting, and other homework is used for
skill-building.
Emphasis on the present and linear thinking.
21. Theoretical Approaches to
Family Counseling
Bowen Family Systems
Focuses on undifferentiated togetherness (fusion)
or physical or psychological avoidance (cutoff)
Often one or both spouses have not clearly
defined themselves as separate from their family
of origin.
Problems stem from triangulation with marriage
itself, a child, or outside influence
Techniques are used to form a healthy concept of
self that can couple with less anxiety.
22. Theoretical Approaches to
Family Counseling
Structural-Strategic
Active behavioral approach focused towards
specific goals.
Symptomology is a result of maladaptive
reactions to the progressing family life cycle.
Uses homework assignments such as
Relabeling, Paradoxing, & Prescribing The
Symptom.
A specific behavior is targeted for change
with the expectation that a spillover effect will
occur and bring about changed in other
behaviors.
23. Theoretical Approaches to
Family Counseling
R.E.B.T.
“Double Systems” approach seeking both
individual and family systems change.
Uses the ABC’s of REBT to address distorted
and irrational thoughts.
Focus is on changing individual distorted
cognitions first while working with clients
alone.
After individual assessment the couple’s
shared irrational beliefs regarding marital
issues are addressed.
24. Theoretical Approaches to
Family Counseling
Psychoanalytic
Object-related approach.
Objects are unconscious preferences
derived from experiences with other
generations.(i.e. primary family)
Interpretations, dreams, analysis of
resistance, transference, and catharsis
are used.
New insights lead to changed behavior.
25. Rubin Hill’s Crisis
Intervention
Model
A + B + C = X
Activating Event
Beliefs-
Assessment of
Interpretations
Coping Skills-
Assessment of
Availability and
efficacy
X-Restructuring
26. Integrative Models
Eclecticism
Selective Borrowing
Comprehensive
Models that
combine two or
more distinct
approaches
27. Case Study
A 15 year old adolescent girl who is an insulin
diabetic and overweight – binge eats because
she has no friends and no social life. Her previous
failed attempts to make friends put her in the
hospital due to her sugar level instability. Mother
and daughter are locked in a battle in which the
mother is enmeshed and constantly criticizing the
daughter because she is irresponsible with regard
to her medical condition. The daughter wants to
be independent, she says she is no longer a child
and her mother will not allow her to make her own
choices. How would you help this family?
