Free Report on Familial Dynamics: Therapeutic Analysis

Analysis of empathy, congruency, and Unconditional positive regard displayed in the therapist.

Therapeutic sessions require a baseline of communication, which encourages the parties to open up and settle the matter. In this case, the therapist should be aware of his role, to ensure that he keeps the session in motion, as well as encouraging more communication from the parties through using different therapeutic techniques. Unconditional positive regard is one of the basic yet effective concepts that most therapists utilize to ensure that parties are welcomed and encouraged to open up. Even though the therapeutic session may encounter numerous differences between the parties, the therapist plays a neutral part in encouraging more conversation. Unconditional positive regard refers to the concept of supporting someone in a therapeutic session regardless of what the person is saying, especially in the context of client-centered therapy. In the Mock Family Counseling session, the therapist utilized this concept while listening to Charles, “we have been married for 20 years, and we need to have fun, but for you, fun is being serious” (Dr. Todd Grande, 2017).

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The therapist further portrays traces of congruency, especially in the opening of the session, when Tracy tries to explain the events that transpired over the weekend. He further echoes what Tracy said, nodding his head for confirmation, “So Anna was arrested?” (Dr. Todd Grande, 2017).

The therapist has also portrayed a great sense of empathy for what the family is undergoing, especially considering their marriage duration. In the opening session, the therapist affirms to the couple about their marriage, as a means of understanding the struggle they have to undergo, significantly raising their teenage daughter.

Therapist's ability to focus on family member wellness, self-care, and boundaries.

When Charles raises his concern in defense of her daughter, he explains that her daughter’s arrest is a common thing that many teenagers have to undergo. He further outlined that her behavior or arrest may have been caused by distancing himself from the family since he is always busy working. As per Charles's understanding, Anna’s arrest is a standard process for many teenagers. In this case, the therapist is more concerned and careful not to show any traces of siding with any party, but rather to obtain all the information from Charles. Therefore, the therapist carefully depicts the concept of self-care by echoing what Charles supports, “this is a normal thing that happens to teenagers” (Dr. Todd Grande, 2017).

The therapist is careful not to cross the family member’s boundaries and how each feels about the situation. At one point, Charles feels that Anna’s arrest is a common thing that may happen to any teenager since he does not consider her a delinquent. However, Tracy has a different opinion, and the therapist ushers her in to air her opinion in a suitable transition manner from Charles, which helps depict his neutral standing point. The therapist also allows Anna to reflect on the warning, a chance that depicts greater family member wellness.

The most helpful thing said, asked, or done by the therapist and/or specific family member.

The main focus of the session was to settle the differences between the couples and how they are addressing Anna’s situation. Therefore, when the therapist decided to ask Anna about the arrest, and how she thinks about it, it was a concept geared towards bringing Anna into the shoes of an adult, and how she could have felt if she was in the shoes of her parents.

The therapist further asks Anna if her mother likes the idea of being arrested as a means of trying to share what she is feeling about her daughter being arrested. Moreover, Tracy feels that Anna’s arrest will end up in her records, which will ruin her future. Tracy hammers home the point that Charles has been enabling Anna to drink since she is a child, and that is when she should be allowed to have fun. Tracy’s point indicates the difference between the couples and how this has led to the current situation.

What would you have done differently if the session could be repeated with you as the counselor?

The therapist has allowed all the participants to air their views regarding the matter at hand. Anna has been given a chance to explain how she felt about the arrest. On the contrary, Charles has been given a similar opportunity to comment on her daughter’s arrest but failed to take responsibility as a father in addressing the effects of underage drinking. As a therapist, it is essential to bring to the family’s attention the effects of teenagers or underage indulging in alcohol and drug abuse. As a therapist, I would have brought up the effects of alcohol consumption on Anna. However, since alcohol has been used as an excuse for fun, the family gathering could be an excellent suggestion for the family to utilize as a way of bonding and avoiding the use of alcohol as an excuse.

Areas for development in working with family members.

Every member of the family holds a divergent view, especially the difference between Charles and Tracy, regarding Anna’s arrest. Throughout the session, the debate was all about the family having little or no fun at all, which reduced the possibilities of bonding. As Charles is becoming busier, so does the family is falling apart. Therefore, it would be necessary to recommend a family develop a bonding session, which will help the couples to unite. Once the bonding has been implemented, it will be necessary to address the effects of alcohol on underage, which will help the parents to understand the threat of underage drinking.

Reference

Dr. Todd Grande. (2017). Family Counseling Role-Play - Relational Problems with Couple and Daughter - Part 1 [Video]. Retrieved 29 September 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV7Ztzqy28U.