1. Direct Practice in Social Work, 2e
Scott W. Boyle
Grafton H. Hull, Jr.
Jannah Hurn Mather
Larry Lorenzo Smith
O. William Farley
University of Utah, College of Social Work
Power Points by Julie Emmer, University of Central Florida
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© 2009 Allyn & Bacon

2. Direct Practice in Social Work
In Chapter 10 we will learn the following:
General systems concepts as they relate to family therapy
How understanding the family life cycle helps in family assessment
Cultural competence issues with families
How to use tools such as ecomaps and genograms
An overview of some of the techniques and models of family therapy
How to respond to families mandated for treatment

3. General systems concepts in family therapy
Homeostasis
Feedback loops
Boundaries
Closed/open systems
Subsystems
Roles
Rules

4. In working with families, keep in mind:
You are establishing a relationship with several people at one time
You will need a broad range of assessment skills to gather all the data you need
You must be able to handle communication issues among family members.
You must engage different family members around a common goal

5. Goals for the initial contact
Establishment of guidelines for the sessions
Building therapeutic alliances with all of the family members
Eliciting information from each member in terms of identified problems and goals
Assessing patterns of family functioning
Building on the strengths
Focusing on the family as a system
Encouraging continuation of the family sessions

6. A family brings many perspectives
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon

7. The family life cycle Families with school-aged kids
Families with Teenagers
Families with Young Children
Launching years
Marriage
Middle-aged parents
Aging family members

8. Stages of divorce Phase Developmental Issue Decision to divorce
Acceptance of one’s own part in the failure of the marriage
Planning the breakup
Working cooperatively on problems of custody, visitation, finances
Dealing with extended family
Separation
Mourning the loss of the intact family
Restructuring relationships and finances, adjusting to the change
Realigning relationships with extended family
Divorce
Mourning the loss of intact family, accepting the change
Retrieval of hopes, dreams, expectations
Staying connected with extended family

9. Assessing family functioning
Meta-communication patterns
Problem solving skills
Belief patterns
Family of origin issues
Alliances and coalitions
Support systems

10. Environmental factors
Basic needs such as food, shelter
Social networks and institutions
Economic factors
Safety issues
Culture, background, and ethnic identity

11. Cultural competence with families (Dillard, 1983)
Many cultures rely more heavily on nonverbal, than verbal, communication
Eye contact is beneficial in most but not all cultures
Both open ended and closed ended questions are permissible in most cultures
Some cultures will be uncomfortable with feeling reflection
Most cultures have no problem with the use of paraphrasing
Care should be taken when using self disclosure
Some cultures would expect the helper to give interpretations and advice
Periodic summarization is probably appropriate
Confrontation may be misinterpreted by some cultures
All cultures respect the core skills of genuineness and openness

12. Different cultures bring different family dynamics:
African American families
Native American families
Asian American families
Gay and lesbian families

13. Ecomap

14. Genogram

15. Processes and techniques
Family sculpture
Questioning
Multiple family therapy
Changing family communication

16. Unique models Bowenian Family Therapy Structural Family Therapy
Experiential Therapy
Strategic Family Therapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Psychoanalytic Family Therapy
Feminist Therapy
Narrative Therapy

17. Working with mandated families
These values remain particularly important:
Client self determination
Dignity and respect
Social justice
Support of strengths

18. Substance abusing families
Be particularly aware of the concepts of enabling and codependency
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon