Problem:
Review this case from your textbook:
Marcia's husband, Darrell, became a heavy polydrug user, causing him to lose a series of jobs. As his drug abuse grew more severe, he became more abusive in his treatment of her. What had been verbal abuse evolved into physical abuse. Marcia was frightened for herself and her two children, both younger than 5. She was also concerned about the family's financial situation. Her secretarial job could barely support the family; it could never support an expensive drug habit.
For some time, Marcia tried everything she could to placate Darrell, believing that somehow, she could solve the family's problems. Finally, she left, but only because she was worried he might do something he had never done before: hurt the children.
Marcia moved in with her parents temporarily until she could get on her feet economically and find a good daycare. Her mother helped her with the children until Marcia could afford an apartment of her own. Meanwhile, Darrell's drug use continued until he was arrested for stealing. This was his first offense, and he was able to choose drug treatment instead of prison time. When he finished treatment, he approached Marcia, sought to make amends with her and the children, and asked for reconciliation. She agreed.
In this case, Marcia interrupted the family's ongoing patterns. Perhaps this change paved the way for Darrell's entry into drug treatment. Now that he is abstaining from drugs and they are reunited, the family must deal with major life changes.
Addressing the following questions:
1. What makes this period difficult for the family? What suggestions would you have about ways in which Marcia and Darrell could deal successfully with the "crisis of abstinence"? Need Assignment Help?
2. What would proponents of each of the following theories suggest about how Marcia and Darrell could achieve deeper, long-lasting change in their family system?
- Satir's experiential/humanistic therapy
- Minuchin's structural family therapy
- Behavioral family therapy