Assignment:
Application Assignment: Psychodynamic Theory and Family Counseling
Overview
Think about the potential differences between counseling couples and families and counseling individuals. What knowledge might you glean from a couple or family in counseling that you cannot garner from working with an individual? What types of interventions or approaches can you institute with a couple or family in counseling that you cannot with an individual?
You will learn about the family as a system. Understanding the systems process in a family is fundamental to the counseling process. You will evaluate the use of psychodynamic theory and the associated techniques.
In this assignment, you will discuss the process of psychodynamic family counseling and Bowen's transgenerational approach. You will describe the common techniques used by psychodynamic theorists and provide support for their use in marriage, couple, and family counseling.
Directions
Review this Learning Resources and think about the different types of psychodynamic family counseling. Also think about the techniques used by psychodynamic theorists. Consider the learning resources and respond to the following:
• Psychodynamic approaches have been criticized for having a strong historical focus, the concern being families may focus on their history rather than present issues and problems. What are the advantages and disadvantages of only focusing on an historical approach?
• How would Murray Bowen or Nathan Ackerman respond to this criticism?
• Make a strong case for the value of genograms in therapeutic work.
• Reflect on your own transgenerational families and provide a reflection about how the concepts of psychodynamic theory fit for your family of origin.