Family Assessment and Phases of Family Therapy
Family Assessment and Phases of Family Therapy
A family’s patterns of behavior influences [sic] the individual and therefore may need to be a part of the treatment plan. In marriage and family therapy, the unit of treatment isn’t just the person – even if only a single person is interviewed – it is the set of relationships in which the person is imbedded.
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—American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, “About Marriage and Family Therapists”
When issues arise within a family unit, the family often presents with one member identified as the “problem.” However, you will frequently find that the issue is not necessarily the “problem client,” but rather dysfunctional family patterns and relationships. To better understand such patterns and relationships and develop a family treatment plan, it is essential that the practitioner appropriately assess all family members. This requires you to have a strong foundation in family assessment and therapy.
This week, as you explore family assessment and therapy, you assess client families presenting for psychotherapy.
Learning Resources
Required Readings
Nichols, M., & Davis, S. D. (2020). The essentials of family therapy (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
- Chapter 2, “Basic Techniques of Family Therapy” (pp. 23-39)
- Chapter 3, “The Fundamental Concepts of Family Therapy” (pp. 40-55)
Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice. New York, NY: Springer.
- Chapter 12, “Family Therapy” (pp. 429–468)
Document: Group Therapy Progress Note
Required Media
Laureate Education (Producer). (2013a). Hernandez family> Sessions 1—6 [Video file]. Author: Baltimore, MD.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 52 minutes.
Accessible player –Downloads– Download Video w/CC Download Audio Download Transcript
Accessible player –Downloads– Download Video w/CC Download Audio Download Transcript
Accessible player –Downloads– Download Video w/CC Download Audio Download Transcript
Accessible player –Downloads– Download Video w/CC Download Audio Download Transcript
Accessible player –Downloads– Download Video w/CC Download Audio Download Transcript
Accessible player –Downloads– Download Video w/CC Download Audio Download Transcript
Psychotherapy.net. (2006c). Tools and techniques for family therapy [Video file].
The approximate length of this media piece is 52 minutes.
Assignment : Hernandez Family Assessment
Assessment is as essential to family therapy as it is to individual therapy. Although families often present with one person identified as the “problem,” the assessment process will help you better understand family roles and determine whether the identified problem client is in fact the root of the family’s issues. As you examine the Hernandez Family: Sessions 1-6 videos in this week’s Learning Resources, consider how you might assess and treat the client family.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Assess client families presenting for psychotherapy
To prepare:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide on family assessment.
- View the Hernandez Family: Sessions 1-6 videos, and consider how you might assess the family in the case study.
Note: For guidance on writing a comprehensive client assessment, refer to pages 137–142 of Wheeler (2014) in this week’s Learning Resources.
The Assignment
Address in a comprehensive client assessment of the Hernandez family the following:
- Demographic information
- Presenting problem
- History or present illness
- Past psychiatric history
- Medical history
- Substance use history
- Developmental history
- Family psychiatric history
- Psychosocial history
- History of abuse and/or trauma
- Review of systems
- Physical assessment
- Mental status exam
- Differential diagnosis
- Case formulation
- Treatment plan
Note: Any item you are unable to address from the video should be marked “needs to be added to” as you would in an actual comprehensive client assessment
By Day 7
Submit your Assignment.
Submission and Grading Information
To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:
- Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK2Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
- Click the Week 2 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
- Click the Week 2 Assignment link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
- Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK2Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
- If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
- Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.
Grading Criteria
To access your rubric:
Week 2 Assignment Rubric
Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity
To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:
Submit your Week 2 Assignment draft and review the originality report.
Submit Your Assignment by Day 7
To submit your Assignment:
Week 2 Assignment
Making Connections
Now that you have:
- Explored family assessment and therapy and assessed client families presenting for psychotherapy
Next week, you will:
- Compare experiential family therapy and narrative family therapy.