Keeping Children Involved in Family Therapy
Children who live in healthy environments know and expect that their basic needs will be met. For example, a child knows that a parent will give him or her food when hungry. Even a baby learns that crying will result in the end of discomfort from a wet diaper. Their world and those in it serve to meet their needs and frequently their wants. What children learn and know about the people in their lives is contingent upon their caregivers and the culture in which they live. A child who has responsive parents learns to trust and rely on his parents to provide for him. That trust is likely to transfer to other adults in his world. He sees the world as a safe and friendly environment in which his needs are met. A child whose parents are inconsistently or sporadically responsive to her wants and needs will develop many different expectations and perceptions of her parents and most likely her entire world.
Adults are generally aware that their world has much to offer but they must seek it out and work for it. Most are expected to take responsibility in order for their bodily needs to be met. Concerning children, …show more content…
It will be important that the parent and I have a mutual understanding of the child’s developmental ability and the best approach for everyone to feel like equal participants. Family therapy may be an especially different concept for all members involved if their cultural background has created an expectation that children are to “agree” and comply with adults’ thoughts or perceptions (Cooklin, 2001). In family therapy, adults and children need to be assured that differing opinions and perspectives are acceptable and welcome (Cooklin, 2001). Similarly, acknowledgment and empathy for every “part” of an individual (including angry, envious, and excited) should be expressed (Wark & Thomas,
Children who live in healthy environments know and expect that their basic needs will be met. For example, a child knows that a parent will give him or her food when hungry. Even a baby learns that crying will result in the end of discomfort from a wet diaper. Their world and those in it serve to meet their needs and frequently their wants. What children learn and know about the people in their lives is contingent upon their caregivers and the culture in which they live. A child who has responsive parents learns to trust and rely on his parents to provide for him. That trust is likely to transfer to other adults in his world. He sees the world as a safe and friendly environment in which his needs are met. A child whose parents are inconsistently or sporadically responsive to her wants and needs will develop many different expectations and perceptions of her parents and most likely her entire world.
Adults are generally aware that their world has much to offer but they must seek it out and work for it. Most are expected to take responsibility in order for their bodily needs to be met. Concerning children, …show more content…
It will be important that the parent and I have a mutual understanding of the child’s developmental ability and the best approach for everyone to feel like equal participants. Family therapy may be an especially different concept for all members involved if their cultural background has created an expectation that children are to “agree” and comply with adults’ thoughts or perceptions (Cooklin, 2001). In family therapy, adults and children need to be assured that differing opinions and perspectives are acceptable and welcome (Cooklin, 2001). Similarly, acknowledgment and empathy for every “part” of an individual (including angry, envious, and excited) should be expressed (Wark & Thomas,