The Web address of this
two-page article https://sfhelp.org/pro/q&a.htm
This
concludes seven groups of questions that average human-service
professionals need to research and answer for effective outcomes with average
divorced-family and stepfamily clients.
Questions About Stepfamily
Assessment
Premises: Effective professionals will
(a)
define "my client" as the
regardless of who initiates or attends sessions; and (b) assess for unique
systemic factors
compared to intact-biofamily clients.
37) What is "effective
clinical assessment"?
38) What's different about assessing average stepfamilies
from other client families?
39) Do I need a family-system
typology to initially
assess new divorced or re/married clients? If so, what factors should be
included in such a typology?
40) What unique
intake questions I should
ask a new divorced-family or stepfamily client?
41) (a) What's the difference
between
and
(b) how does this relate
to effective client assessment, and (c) how can I help clients to clearly
their current primary
needs?
42) What are the most common
presenting problems with these clients, and
what primary needs usually cause them?
Question index
Stepfamily Intervention Guidelines
41) What is "effective intervention" with
a divorced-family or stepfamily client?
42) Are there special intervention
goals in
working with typical stepfamilies?
43) If there are common
phases in typical
stepfamily therapy, what are they, and why do I need to know them?
44)
Can time-limited or brief therapy be effective with typical stepfamily
clients?
45) Should I try to
engage ex mates and
key relatives in the therapeutic process?
46) What are the most
common therapeutic
errors
with stepfamily clients, and how can I avoid them?
47) If there is a "best way" to working
effectively with
significantly wounded co-parents, what is
it?
48) Is there a
best modality for working
with typical divorced-family and stepfamily clients?
49) Are there special
transference
issues with typical divorced-family and stepfamily clients?
50) What special issues should I be alert
for in court-referred stepfamily cases?
51) How may
my and my clients'
spirituality (vs. religion) affect
professional outcomes with divorced-family and stepfamily clients?
52) What factors are most likely to
block
effective therapy with these clients, and what can I do to avoid or
reduce them?
Question index
Questions About
Supervision and Consultants
53) What's required for
effective
supervision of stepfamily therapists?
54) How can I choose an
effective consultant for
my stepfamily cases?
55) What special
supports can I provide for staff clinicians
working with divorced-family and stepfamily clients?
56) What do our Board members,
funders, and accreditation evaluators
need to know about effective service to our divorced-family and
stepfamily clients? How can I alert them to this?
Question index
Agency and Program Questions
57) How can I judge the
nurturance level of our
organization, and why should I do so?
58) What do (a) agency or program directors and
(b) Board members need to know about
staffing for, and service to, average divorced-family and stepfamily clients?
59) What's an
effective in-service
training program for stepfamily therapists and counselors?
60) What's
needed to provide effective
service to local divorcing families and stepfamilies?
61) What
programs and groups can we
provide to best serve our clients and community?
62) What relevant
resources and supports can
we provide for (a) our
staff and (b) these clients?
Question index
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