How Counseling Improves Family Dynamics: Mental Health Assignment Help
- 27 November 2024
- Posted by: OAH
- Category: Nursing & Healthcare
Family dynamics play a crucial role in the overall well-being of individuals, especially when faced with unique challenges like raising a child with disabilities. This case study discusses – “How Counseling Improves Family Dynamics” and highlights how effective counseling can foster communication, unity, and coping strategies in a complex family, offering valuable insights for those seeking mental health assignment help.
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Case Study Analysis: Counseling Interventions for Family Dynamics (A Case Study for Mental Health Students)
Assignment Question:
Question:
Using the provided family counseling report as a case study, critically analyze the following aspects:
- Family Dynamics and Challenges:
- Identify the key issues faced by the Smith family.
- Discuss the impact of these challenges on individual family members.
- Counseling Strategies and Interventions:
- Evaluate the counseling techniques used in each session.
- How effective were these strategies in addressing sibling rivalry, parental stress, and communication barriers?
- Nursing Perspective:
- Reflect on the role of a nurse or counselor in supporting families facing similar challenges.
- Propose additional interventions or strategies that could further support the family.
- Ethical and Emotional Considerations:
- What ethical considerations should a counselor or nurse keep in mind during such sessions?
- How can the emotional needs of both parents and children be balanced effectively?
Instructions:
- Your response should be 1,000–1,500 words.
- Provide evidence-based reasoning and cite relevant sources.
- Include recommendations for improving counseling approaches in similar scenarios.
Solution:
Comprehensive Family Counseling Report: A Nursing Case Study Example
Family Background
The Smith Family also grapples with the arrival of a newborn and faces profound challenges that shift family dynamics. Mrs. Smith is the mother who consumes care of the newborn resulting in disruptions in the household. The family operates and compromises Mr. and Mrs. Smith who has three children aged 10, 12, and 14, and the newborn has disabilities. Mrs. Smith is exhausted by the struggling balance of attention between her children. The following report highlights four counseling sessions to address her issues by understanding the child’s feelings and also provide strategies to alleviate the emotional burden on Mrs. Smith (Yuen et al. 2020).
Session 1: Establishing the Family Context
In the inaugural Counseling session, the main goal is to introduce the Smith family to the therapeutic process and establish a safe and non-judgmental space for open dialogue. The counselor must create an atmosphere of trust and encourage families to express their concerns and feelings. Mrs. Smith was the first who share her emotions and bravely disclosed a deep-seated sense of overwhelming guilt and exhaustion. She also explained that her devotion towards the newborn with disabilities led to painful negligence to other children. Her vulnerability is also evident and the growing division between the children creates internal conflicts within her. As the session progressed the older children of 10,12 and 14 also found voices. Each expressed their anxieties and concerns. The 14-year-old daughter also conveys a deep desire for quality time with her mother. The 12-year-old son feels forgotten and shares a sense of isolation with the challenges of adolescence. The 10-year-old admitted the feelings of jealousy and anger towards the newborn who occupied all her mother’s attention. The initial session is vital and allows family members to express their emotions and set the stage for subsequent sessions with collective challenges that can be addressed and resolved. The role of a counselor also facilitated honest communication and was instrumental in acknowledging family struggles while working towards unified and supportive family dynamics (Johnson and Mahan, 2020).
Session 2: Understanding the Sibling’s Feelings
The second counseling session is about the older children’s concerns and emotions. It also aims to provide a platform for voices to be heard. The counselor fosters an environment where the young feel feelings without any fear. The 14-year-old daughter shares her innermost anxieties and conveys the fear of becoming responsible to her younger siblings due to her mother’s absence and caregiving demands to a disabled child. She also years more quality time with her mother and had a deep desire of longing with maternal presence during her adolescent years (Puffer et al. 2021).
The 12th-year-old son unveiled her feelings and overlooked family struggles. His heartfelt admission to forgotten feelings and unnoticed poignant moments in the session. He also expressed challenges to growing up transitioning in the adolescence period and needed some emotional support and guidance received from his mother.
The youngest sibling of the 10-year-old reveals her anger towards the newborn. These complex feelings stemmed from witnessing to vast amount of attention and were directed to disabled infants and interpreted as to direct threat to the mother’s affection. This second session also allows older children to express their ffeelingsand lead to a deep understanding of their struggles and frustrations. The counselor’s empathetic approach also validates feelings builds the foundation for addressing concerns about upcoming sessions and fosters a sense of unity within the family (Sapiets et al. 2023).
Session 3: Enhancing Communication
The third counseling session was dedicated to family communication that helped to rebuild the Smith family cohesion. This also introduces many strategies for effective communication. The family engages in a discussion of the importance and allocates time for each child. This is also the opportunity to nurture unique relationships with the mother and address negligence in previous sessions. This in one moment envisioned with a sense of connection and affirmation for each child. The vital aspect emphasizes the involvement of older children in the care of disabled newborns. It also encourages participation lighter the mother’s burden and bring the family close together. Mrs. Smith recognized the necessity of self-care and also acknowledged limitations by expressing a deep desire to support her husband. Mr. Smith is also a responsible person and shares his care to the newborn. This is the vital step to prevent her from physical and emotional exhaustion. This third session made a turning point in Smith’s journey and began actively by implementing practical strategies with effective communication. The foundation dynamics also gradually take place to commit to each member’s needs and concerns (Camden et al. 2020).
Also Read Mental Health in Adolescents: Impact Of Social Media and Creative Expressions
Session 4: Coping Strategies and Support
The fourth counseling session revolves around equipping the Smith family to cope with strategies and fostering a support system. The counselor provides practical tools to empower the family and helps in managing challenging circumstances. The counselor suggests assistance from local support groups who offer valuable insights and guidance with comfort with a sense of community and provide her much-needed emotional support with understanding. The importance of relieving Mrs. Smith’s caregiving load and exploring options by hiring a caregiver and assisting with newborn needs. This allocates time and attention to other children and able to practice self-care without compromising quality care. The older children are also encouraged to participate with disabled siblings. This allows for a bond in b between them and promotes unity in the family. These supports and coping strategies will help them in their journey and make a balanced life (Mayer-Benarous et al. 2021).
Summary
The Smith Family faces many challenges with the birth of a newborn disabled child. These four therapies help them to express their feelings and develop coping strategies. The counseling process helps in improving communication and finding a supportive community. These are essential steps to rebuild their family unity.
Reference
Yuen, J., Lee, S.Y., Courtney, E., Lim, J., Soh, H., Li, S.T., Chen, Y., McAllister, M., Fenwick, E.K. and Ngeow, J., 2020. Evaluating empowerment in genetic counseling using patient‐reported outcomes. Clinical genetics, 97(2), pp.246-256.
Johnson, K.F. and Mahan, L.B., 2020. Interprofessional collaboration and telehealth: Useful strategies for family counselors in rural and underserved areas. The Family Journal, 28(3), pp.215-224.
Puffer, E.S., Friis-Healy, E.A., Giusto, A., Stafford, S. and Ayuku, D., 2021. Development and implementation of a family therapy intervention in Kenya: A community-embedded lay provider model. Global Social Welfare, 8, pp.11-28.
Sapiets, S.J., Hastings, R.P., Stanford, C. and Totsika, V., 2023. Families’ access to early intervention and support for children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Early Intervention, 45(2), pp.103-121.
Camden, C., Pratte, G., Fallon, F., Couture, M., Berbari, J. and Tousignant, M., 2020. Diversity of practices in telerehabilitation for children with disabilities and effective intervention characteristics: results from a systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 42(24), pp.3424-3436.
Mayer-Benarous, H., Benarous, X., Vonthron, F. and Cohen, D., 2021. Music therapy for children with autistic spectrum disorder and/or other neurodevelopmental disorders: a systematic review. Frontiers in psychiatry, 12, p.435.
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