Question

Chris and Janelle, a married couple, bring in their daughter, Monique (age 10), to see you for counseling. As you query the parents, you learn that the presenting problem is that Monique's grades have tapered off significantly; she was an A student last year but is now averaging a C grade. At home, she has become more defiant and more sullen in her demeanor. She often does not complete her homework. She has also become more "mean" toward her younger brother, Jemiah, age 7, teasing him about his size. They now fight quite frequently. When you ask about any changes in her life, Dad reports that he changed jobs last year, and his new job requires him to be away during the week, allowing him to be home only on the weekends. Given that Mom works as a nurse at a nursing home, she doesn't get home until 5:30pm. The children are home unsupervised from the time of school dismissal until mom gets home. Additionally, Jemiah was diagnosed last year with sickle-cell anemia and has had three hospitalizations for blood-transfusions since. You learn that mom is the disciplinarian, and Janelle reports that Dad "favors" Monique, often undermining mom's discipline with her. Janelle states that this behavior has accentuated since his job change; he often comes home on weekends to shower the kids with gifts and treats. Janelle also reports that the tension in their marriage that existed before the job change has worsened since the job change. When he is home, they fight often. There is no physical violence, but they do yell at each other in front of the children. Their most frequent theme of conflict is the discipline of the children, particularly of Monique. The event that precipitated their entry into counseling is Monique's fight with another child at school and a subsequent referral by the school counselor.

Choose one of the three family therapy approaches (experiential, psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral ) and apply how it could be used for the above case scenario?

Answer 1

I would use experiential therapy as it would help the family relive their past moments through role play, acting, music, arts and crafts etc. One of the most important things about using this therapy is that people would realize that their relationship was not always as it is in the present time but circumstances have changed it. Secondly, it would help them cherish the memory of their past loving, caring and sharing relationship that made everyone happy and content. Thirdly, it would rekindle the need to come together again as it would help the family members have a great time while at the same time share their feelings and emotions with other members which would help them bond again.

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