1. CHAPTER 3: Types and Functionality of Families
Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice
6th Edition
Samuel T. Gladding
Developed by Nathaniel N. Ivers, Wake Forest University
© (2015, 2011, 2007) by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2. Overview Types of Families Qualities of Healthy Families
Structure, Resources, and Coping Strategies

3. Types of Families Nuclear family Single-parent family Blended family
Dual-career family
Child-free family

4. Types of Families Special-needs-child/children family Aging family
Multigenerational family
Grandparent-headed family
Military family

5. Qualities of Healthy Families
According to research, healthy families are able to do the following:
Adapt to change
Set appropriate boundaries
Develop relationships through open communication
Promote responsibility
Express confidence in themselves and their children
Optimistic about the future

6. Qualities of Healthy Families
Understand what issues to address and how to address them
Do not operate from an extreme cognitive or emotional framework
Exert appropriate amount of energy toward matters
Have realistic plans
Have strong marital unit

7. Qualities of Healthy Families
Commitment to the family and its individuals
Appreciation for each other
Willingness to spend time together
Effective communication patterns
High degree of religious/spiritual orientation
Ability to deal with crisis in a positive manner
Encouragement of individuals
Clear roles

8. Family Life Stressors Vertical Stressors
Bring past and present issues to bear reciprocally
Inherited from previous generations
Horizontal Stressors
Aspects of life that relate to the present
Developmental and unfolding and, at times, predictable

9. Family Life Stressors Expected Life Stressors Developmental Stressors
Situational Stressors
Unexpected Life Stressors
Happenstance
Physical/psychological trauma
Success and failure

10. Family Structure and Functionality
Symmetrical/Complementary Families
Centripetal/Centrifugal Families
Cohesion/Adaptability

11. Coping Strategies of Families
Coping strategies of healthy families (Figley & McCubbin, 1983, p. 18)
Ability to identify the stressor
Ability to view the situation as a family problem rather than a problem of one another
Solution-oriented rather than blame-oriented approach
Tolerance for other family members
Clear expression of commitment to and affection for other family members
Open and clear communication among members
Evidence of high family cohesion

12. Coping Strategies of Families
Coping strategies of healthy families continued (Figley & McCubbin, 1983, p. 18)
Evidence of considerable role flexibility.
Appropriate utilization of resources inside and outside the family.
Lack of physical violence.
Lack of substance abuse.

13. Coping Strategies: ABCX Model
A – Stressor event that happens to the family
B – Resources at the family’s disposal
C – Meaning or interpretation the family attaches to the experience
X – Combined effect of these factors
Hill ( 1949)

14. Coping Strategies: Double ABCX Model
A theoretical framework for understanding how families respond to more than one event
Similar to the ABCX Model
Focuses on family resolution over time rather than geared to a single happening

15. Coping Strategies: Orders of Change
First-Order Change
Superficial change
Not as likely to produce meaningful and lasting positive change
Second-Order Change
Results in metachange
New set of rules and behaviors is introduced
New type of behaviors appear

16. Coping Strategies
Recognizing that stress may be positive and lead to change
Realizing that stress is usually temporary
Focusing on working together to find solutions
Realizing that stress is a normal part of life
Changing the rules to deal with stress and celebrating victories over events that led to stress
(Curran, 1985)