Analyzing Family Developmental Factors
Throughout the course, you have been exploring the complex and fascinating constellation of developmental factors that impact individuals and relationships within families across an entire life cycle.
In this assignment, you will have the opportunity to reflect back on the information you gained from each of the genograms you created earlier in the course, based on your own family and that of the case study family, and assess the developmental factors that appear to be most salient.
For the case study family in particular, you will be asked to think about which of the developmental factors you believe will be most important to explore further as you imagine conducting future therapy with them.
Finally, you will assess the similarities and differences between the two families with regard to the key developmental factors that have been highlighted and analyze the potential impact on the therapeutic relationship and overall treatment.
This assignment will consist of the following three sections.
Section 1 (2–3 pages)
The first section will be a discussion of the lifespan developmental factors based on your personal genogram that you believe to be most salient to understanding you and your family. Discuss three developmental factors from the list below. Address the following:
Using the course readings as support, describe each of the three developmental factors or phases you highlighted as most important in understanding the family at this time.
Provide a rationale as to why you believe these factors are most important.
Include specific examples that illustrate the lifespan developmental factors or phases that best describe the family.
Section 2 (2–3 pages)
The second section will be a discussion of the lifespan developmental factors that are most salient to understanding of the case study family. Discuss three developmental factors from the list below. Address the following:
SECTION 3 (1–2 PAGES):
Based on the life cycle factors for your own family and the case study family, address the following:
Analyze similarities and differences between each family based on the developmental factors identified in Sections 1 and 2.
Imagine you will be the clinician working with this family. Discuss how these similarities and differences will impact the therapeutic relationship and course of treatment.
Consider questions such as: Based on similarities and differences, who might I feel most connected to or protective of in the client family? Who might I feel most distant from and reactive to? What challenges or opportunities might there be based on these similarities and differences?
Finally, identify two strategies to effectively address potential challenges that may arise due to similarities and differences in developmental factors between each family.
Developmental Factors List
Choose three total, one from each category:
1. Developmental Phase (choose one): Becoming an Adult, Becoming a Couple, Parents with Children, Adolescence, Midlife, Later Life.
2. Sociocultural Factors (choose one): Ability, Gender, Race, Socioeconomic Status, Sexuality, Spirituality.
3. Additional Factors (choose one): Death/Loss, Divorce/Re-Marriage, Single Parent Families, Alcohol, Violence.
