The Family Life Cycle
Understanding the family life cycle is an essential part of couples and family counseling. As individuals grow and build their lives, the family life cycle dynamic changes. With each stage of life, different conflicts and challenges arise whether in a relationship or family (Laureate Education, 2008). The family life cycle begins with the individual and spirals through generations (Ferguson, 1979). By understanding the influences in one’s life cycle, counselors can begin to improve individuals functioning (Thomlison, 2016). A counselor can use their theoretical orientation on couples and families cycles to influence the treatment approach.
Evidence-Based Family Therapy
The treatment approach I as a counselor would use when working with couples and families is evidence-based family therapy. Evidence-based practice involves focusing on the treatment approaches and demonstrating its effectiveness (Wetchler, & Hecker, 2015). The use of evidence-based practice for couples and families can be seen through emotionally focused therapy, focuses …show more content…
Dan and Brooke were first a couple, then married, and now have created a family. Not only have the couple’s dynamic changed, but the family dynamic as well. The counselor must begin the journey with Dan and Brooke to build upon a therapeutic alliance (Thomlison, 2016). This journey will begin with understanding the presenting issues, planning interventions, and identifying the family support and resources (Thomlison, 2016). Throughout the therapy sessions, the counselor will interview the couple to gather more data, observe the couple, and map out time lines of their family life cycle (Thomlison, 2016). Dan and Brooke will examine their life events together as a couple and as parents. They will understand their difficulties and find whom their support systems are as they go through their family life
Understanding the family life cycle is an essential part of couples and family counseling. As individuals grow and build their lives, the family life cycle dynamic changes. With each stage of life, different conflicts and challenges arise whether in a relationship or family (Laureate Education, 2008). The family life cycle begins with the individual and spirals through generations (Ferguson, 1979). By understanding the influences in one’s life cycle, counselors can begin to improve individuals functioning (Thomlison, 2016). A counselor can use their theoretical orientation on couples and families cycles to influence the treatment approach.
Evidence-Based Family Therapy
The treatment approach I as a counselor would use when working with couples and families is evidence-based family therapy. Evidence-based practice involves focusing on the treatment approaches and demonstrating its effectiveness (Wetchler, & Hecker, 2015). The use of evidence-based practice for couples and families can be seen through emotionally focused therapy, focuses …show more content…
Dan and Brooke were first a couple, then married, and now have created a family. Not only have the couple’s dynamic changed, but the family dynamic as well. The counselor must begin the journey with Dan and Brooke to build upon a therapeutic alliance (Thomlison, 2016). This journey will begin with understanding the presenting issues, planning interventions, and identifying the family support and resources (Thomlison, 2016). Throughout the therapy sessions, the counselor will interview the couple to gather more data, observe the couple, and map out time lines of their family life cycle (Thomlison, 2016). Dan and Brooke will examine their life events together as a couple and as parents. They will understand their difficulties and find whom their support systems are as they go through their family life