Family Counseling
When working with children and teenagers, it will not be uncommon for their parents to bring them to you wanting you to “fix” the issues their child or teen is dealing and then walk away, leaving you to “work your magic.” Sadly, this is simply not the answer, and if this is the parents’ perspective, then there is probably a number of complex issues related to what the child or teen has been experiencing. After reading this module, discuss the following:
Why do some parents feel like their child is the sole problem and do not want to participate in the solution?
How would you approach the family about the need to do family counseling rather than individual counseling?
Create a scenario that fits this situation providing specific details about the behaviors and attitudes the child or teen has been expressing as well as the overall issues that are contributing to this within the family system.
Based on the different strategies and activities you have read about this module, how would you work with this family over a number of sessions?
How would you integrate guidance provided in the Bible to your work with this family?
Review These Resources:
Reality Therapy: Constructing Your Future One Choice at a Time
Family Therapy
What Is Family Therapy? + 6 Techniques & Interventions
Supplemental Resources for Module 3:
Getting teens to open up and be willing to engage in therapy can be one of the biggest hurdles in working with teens. The following article provides a good overview of this issue along with some creative ways to encourage teens to engage:
Five Out of the Box Techniques for Encouraging Teenagers to Engage in Counseling
The following websites provide a good overview of psychodynamic therapy along with some different psychodynamic strategies:
What is Psychodynamic Therapy? 5 Tools & Techniques
What is Psychotherapy: 15 Techniques and Exercises (+PDF)
The following website provides a good overview of a number of person-centered therapy techniques:
10 Person-Centered Therapy Techniques Inspired by Carl Rogers [+PDF]