Note
- this model and series was originally designed to focus on effective
clinical work with typical di-vorcing families and stepfamilies. It is
being reorganized in 2009 to pertain to all "low-nurturance"
(multi-problem, "dysfunctional") families, and persons recovering from
early-childhood trauma ("Grown Wounded Children" - GWCs). Sections still
hilight keys to serving divorcing and stepfamily members effectively.
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This article is one of a series on
professional counseling, coaching, and therapy with (a) low-nurturance
(dysfunctional) families and with (b) typical
of childhood
and trauma. These articles for
professionals are under construction.
This series assumes you're familiar with:
Before continuing, pause and reflect - why are you reading this article?
What do you
+ + +
In-service Topics about
Assessment and Intervention
xx) Effective service -
long-term systemic outcomes vs. short-term crisis/problem resolution /
review 5 hazards & 12 projects and _ client definition
xx) Context - review five
clinical requisites, _ five client-types, _ three phases of divorce, and _
three phases of work with these families. Option: present and discuss
illustrative cases
xx) Self-assessment for psychological wounds
xx) Workplace nurturance level
xx) Overall guidelines - long-term
systemic outlook; mixed modalities, "surface vs. primary needs and problems;
education vs. therapy; separate & prioritize multiple problems, and stay
focused; use help, homework, networks, include strengths, constructive
confrontation vs. enabling; seed,
xx) Effective assessment -
client-assessment grid
xx) Effective first-meetings / Intakes
xx) Common blocks to effective service
In-service Resources
1) Stepfamily “Trigger” Film / Video Showing and Group Discussion
- There are several useful trigger
(multi-vignette) films and videos available for enhancing discussion and
visual learning. Contact the National Council on Family Relations
(NCFR) or the National
Stepfamily Resource Center (NSRC) for information. Use of such media can
fill a two to three-hour in-service session focused on raising stepfamily
awareness.
Because typical multi-home-stepfamily clients
are extra-complex multi-problem cases - often in a presenting crisis, effective
Tx can call for a mix of family, couple, and individual sessions over time.
The Tx process can range between education, clarification and
problem-solving facilitation, and intrapsychic work. In cases with high
divorced-spouse hostility, having a clinician for each household (i.e.
co-therapists) is ideal.
Stepfamily clients can be specially helped by
informed case management and
clinical teams, where
available: i.e. case managers strategically using specialists in marital Tx,
grief-work, communication skill-building, addictions management, GWC recovery
facilitation, child Tx, and building effective parenting awareness and
skills.
Networking is often highly appropriate for
stepfamily clients - e.g. with Rainbows (grief-support) or 12-step
groups, and co-parent support groups [15], where available.
Connection to local Mothers Without Custody (MWoC) or Tough Love
chapters is helpful in some cases.
The Web address of this article is
https://sfhelp.org/pro/study2.htm