Family Counselling
UNIT 1 FAMILY COUNSELING
Structure
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Objectives
1.2 Evolution of the Concept of Family Counseling
1.2.1 Developments in Psychoanalysis
1.2.2 Growth of Child Guidance Movement
1.2.3 Emergence of Marriage Counseling Movement
1.2.4 Initiation of Group Counseling
1.2.5 Influence of General Systems Theory
1.2.6 Researches on Schizophrenia and Family Communication
1.3 Concepts of ‘Family Life Cycle’ and ‘Communication Pattern within
Families’
1.4 Approaches to Family Counseling
1.5 Types of Family Counseling
1.6 Family Counseling in Relation to Individual Counseling
1.7 Family Counseling Process
1.8 Indications and Contraindications for Family Counseling
1.9 Let Us Sum Up
1.10 Unit End Questions
1.11 Suggested Readings
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This unit deals with family counseling. The unit starts with evolution of family
counseling in terms of how developments in psychoanalysis, child guidance
movement, marriage and group counseling etc. This is followed by concepts of
family life cycle, in which there is a discussion about communication within
families. Then we take up different approaches tom family counseling and types
of family counseling. This is followed by family counseling in relation to
individual counseling. Then we deal with family counseling processes. Then we
deal with do’s and don’ts in family counseling.
1.1 OBJECTIVES
After reading this unit, you should be able to:
• Define family counseling;
• Describe the historical evolution of family counseling;
• Understand the concept of family life cycle;
• Understand the concept of adaptive and dysfunctional communication
patterns;
• Familiarise with the different approaches to family counseling;
7
,Psychological Counselling • Understand the different types of family counseling;
other than Psychoanalysis
• Describe the process of family counseling in terms of laying down its aims
and objectives, process of assessment and the intervention process in family
counseling;
• Describe the indications and contraindications for applying family
counseling; and
• Critically analyse or evaluate the entire family counseling process.
1.2 EVOLUTION OF THE CONCEPT OF FAMILY
COUNSELING
Family counseling is a program of providing information and professional
guidance to members of a family concerning specific health matters, such as the
care of a severely retarded child or the risk of transmitting a known genetic
defect. Family is a group of people related by heredity, such as parents, children,
and siblings. The term is sometimes broadened to include related by marriage or
those living in the same household, who are emotionally attached, interact
regularly, and share concerns for the growth and development of the group and
its individual members.
Family counseling, is a program that consists of providing information and
professional guidance to members of a family concerning specific health matters
Legal Definition of family counselling
Family counselling is a process in which a family counsellor helps:
Family counseling is a process in which
a) one or more persons to deal with personal and interpersonal issues in relation
to marriage; or
b) one or more persons (including children) who are affected, or likely to be
affected, by separation or divorce to deal with either or both of the following:
i) Personal and interpersonal issues;
ii) Issues relating to the care of children.
Family therapy provides a safe environment and temporary structure for people
during these difficult times. People can re-build and create new ways of being
that are more effective for their current life.
I think relationship counseling should be tailored to each person’s or family’s
goals by using a combination of techniques and styles that best suit their
personality and needs. All facets of an individual or a family are important to
consider: mind, body, relationships, spirituality, and culture. I always look at a
client’s struggle in the context of their relationships. I help clients alter negative
thinking and behaviour patterns, and use relaxation techniques to relieve stress
and anxiety.
Most people already know what they need to do, but need the motivation, support,
and feedback of a compassionate counselor to do it.
Family therapy is generally conducted by a therapist or team of therapists who
are trained and experienced in family and group therapy techniques. Therapists
8
, may be psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, or counselors. Family therapy Family Counselling
involves multiple therapy sessions, usually lasting at least one hour each,
conducted at regular intervals (for example, once weekly) for several months.
Typically, family therapy is initiated to address a specific problem, such as an
adolescent with a psychological disorder or adjustment to a death in the family.
However, frequently, therapy sessions reveal additional problems in the family,
such as communication issues. In a therapy session, therapists seek to analyse
the process of family interaction and communication as a whole and do not take
sides with specific family members. Therapists who work as a team can model
new behaviours for the family through their interactions with each other during
a session.
Family therapy is based on family systems theory, in which the family is viewed
as a living organism rather than just the sum of its individual members. Family
therapy uses systems theory to evaluate family members in terms of their position
or role within the system as a whole. Problems are treated by changing the way
the system works rather than trying to fix a specific member. Family systems
theory is based on several major concepts.
Concepts in Family Therapy
1) The identified client
The identified client is the family member with the symptom that has brought
the family into treatment. Children and adolescents are frequently the indentified
client in family counseling.
The concept of the identified clinet is used by family counselors to keep the
family from scapegoating the client or using him or her as a way of avoiding
problems in the rest of the system.
2) Homeostasis (Balance)
Homeostasis means that the family system seeks to maintain its customary
organisation and functioning over time, and it tends to resist change. The family
counsellor can use the concept of homeostasis to explain why a certain family
symptom has surfaced at a given time, why a specific member has become the
client, and what is likely to happen when the family begins to change.
3) The extended family field
The extended family field includes the immediate family and the network of
grandparents and other relatives of the family. This concept is used to explain
the intergenerational transmission of attitudes, problems, behaviours, and other
issues. Children and adolescents often benefit from family counseling that
includes the extended family.
4) Differentiation
Differentiation refers to the ability of each family member to maintain his or her
own sense of self, while remaining emotionally connected to the family. One
mark of a healthy family is its capacity to allow members to differentiate, while
family members still feel that they are members in good standing of the family.
9
UNIT 1 FAMILY COUNSELING
Structure
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Objectives
1.2 Evolution of the Concept of Family Counseling
1.2.1 Developments in Psychoanalysis
1.2.2 Growth of Child Guidance Movement
1.2.3 Emergence of Marriage Counseling Movement
1.2.4 Initiation of Group Counseling
1.2.5 Influence of General Systems Theory
1.2.6 Researches on Schizophrenia and Family Communication
1.3 Concepts of ‘Family Life Cycle’ and ‘Communication Pattern within
Families’
1.4 Approaches to Family Counseling
1.5 Types of Family Counseling
1.6 Family Counseling in Relation to Individual Counseling
1.7 Family Counseling Process
1.8 Indications and Contraindications for Family Counseling
1.9 Let Us Sum Up
1.10 Unit End Questions
1.11 Suggested Readings
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This unit deals with family counseling. The unit starts with evolution of family
counseling in terms of how developments in psychoanalysis, child guidance
movement, marriage and group counseling etc. This is followed by concepts of
family life cycle, in which there is a discussion about communication within
families. Then we take up different approaches tom family counseling and types
of family counseling. This is followed by family counseling in relation to
individual counseling. Then we deal with family counseling processes. Then we
deal with do’s and don’ts in family counseling.
1.1 OBJECTIVES
After reading this unit, you should be able to:
• Define family counseling;
• Describe the historical evolution of family counseling;
• Understand the concept of family life cycle;
• Understand the concept of adaptive and dysfunctional communication
patterns;
• Familiarise with the different approaches to family counseling;
7
,Psychological Counselling • Understand the different types of family counseling;
other than Psychoanalysis
• Describe the process of family counseling in terms of laying down its aims
and objectives, process of assessment and the intervention process in family
counseling;
• Describe the indications and contraindications for applying family
counseling; and
• Critically analyse or evaluate the entire family counseling process.
1.2 EVOLUTION OF THE CONCEPT OF FAMILY
COUNSELING
Family counseling is a program of providing information and professional
guidance to members of a family concerning specific health matters, such as the
care of a severely retarded child or the risk of transmitting a known genetic
defect. Family is a group of people related by heredity, such as parents, children,
and siblings. The term is sometimes broadened to include related by marriage or
those living in the same household, who are emotionally attached, interact
regularly, and share concerns for the growth and development of the group and
its individual members.
Family counseling, is a program that consists of providing information and
professional guidance to members of a family concerning specific health matters
Legal Definition of family counselling
Family counselling is a process in which a family counsellor helps:
Family counseling is a process in which
a) one or more persons to deal with personal and interpersonal issues in relation
to marriage; or
b) one or more persons (including children) who are affected, or likely to be
affected, by separation or divorce to deal with either or both of the following:
i) Personal and interpersonal issues;
ii) Issues relating to the care of children.
Family therapy provides a safe environment and temporary structure for people
during these difficult times. People can re-build and create new ways of being
that are more effective for their current life.
I think relationship counseling should be tailored to each person’s or family’s
goals by using a combination of techniques and styles that best suit their
personality and needs. All facets of an individual or a family are important to
consider: mind, body, relationships, spirituality, and culture. I always look at a
client’s struggle in the context of their relationships. I help clients alter negative
thinking and behaviour patterns, and use relaxation techniques to relieve stress
and anxiety.
Most people already know what they need to do, but need the motivation, support,
and feedback of a compassionate counselor to do it.
Family therapy is generally conducted by a therapist or team of therapists who
are trained and experienced in family and group therapy techniques. Therapists
8
, may be psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, or counselors. Family therapy Family Counselling
involves multiple therapy sessions, usually lasting at least one hour each,
conducted at regular intervals (for example, once weekly) for several months.
Typically, family therapy is initiated to address a specific problem, such as an
adolescent with a psychological disorder or adjustment to a death in the family.
However, frequently, therapy sessions reveal additional problems in the family,
such as communication issues. In a therapy session, therapists seek to analyse
the process of family interaction and communication as a whole and do not take
sides with specific family members. Therapists who work as a team can model
new behaviours for the family through their interactions with each other during
a session.
Family therapy is based on family systems theory, in which the family is viewed
as a living organism rather than just the sum of its individual members. Family
therapy uses systems theory to evaluate family members in terms of their position
or role within the system as a whole. Problems are treated by changing the way
the system works rather than trying to fix a specific member. Family systems
theory is based on several major concepts.
Concepts in Family Therapy
1) The identified client
The identified client is the family member with the symptom that has brought
the family into treatment. Children and adolescents are frequently the indentified
client in family counseling.
The concept of the identified clinet is used by family counselors to keep the
family from scapegoating the client or using him or her as a way of avoiding
problems in the rest of the system.
2) Homeostasis (Balance)
Homeostasis means that the family system seeks to maintain its customary
organisation and functioning over time, and it tends to resist change. The family
counsellor can use the concept of homeostasis to explain why a certain family
symptom has surfaced at a given time, why a specific member has become the
client, and what is likely to happen when the family begins to change.
3) The extended family field
The extended family field includes the immediate family and the network of
grandparents and other relatives of the family. This concept is used to explain
the intergenerational transmission of attitudes, problems, behaviours, and other
issues. Children and adolescents often benefit from family counseling that
includes the extended family.
4) Differentiation
Differentiation refers to the ability of each family member to maintain his or her
own sense of self, while remaining emotionally connected to the family. One
mark of a healthy family is its capacity to allow members to differentiate, while
family members still feel that they are members in good standing of the family.
9
