Week 2: 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.

—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. You also develop diagnoses for clients receiving psychotherapy and consider the legal and ethical implications of counseling these clients.

Learning Resources

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in theCourse Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

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)

Nichols, M. (2014).
The essentials of family therapy (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Chapter 3, “Basic Techniques of Family Therapy” (pp. 29–48)

Chapter 4, “The Fundamental Concepts of Family Therapy” (pp. 49–68)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013).
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Note: It is highly recommended that you use this resource as a reference guide throughout the course. Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

L’Abate, L. (2015). Highlights from 60 years of practice, research, and teaching in family therapy.
American Journal of Family Therapy, 43(2), 180–196. doi:10.1080/01926187.2014.1002367

Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Mojta, C., Falconier, M. K., & Huebner, A. J. (2014). Fostering self-awareness in novice therapists using internal family systems therapy.
American Journal of Family Therapy, 42(1), 67–78. doi:10.1080/01926187.2013.772870

Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Nichols, M., & Tafuri, S. (2013). Techniques of structural family assessment: A qualitative analysis of how experts promote a systemic perspective.
Family Process, 52(2), 207–215. doi:10.1111/famp.12025

Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Papero, D. V. (2014). Assisting the two-person system: An approach based on the Bowen theory. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 35(4), 386–397. doi:10.1002/anzf.1079

Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Document: Group Therapy Progress Note

Required Media

Laureate Education (Producer). (2013a).
Hernandez family> Sessions 1—6 [Video file]. Author: Baltimore, MD.

Psychotherapy.net (Producer). (2006).
Tools and techniques for family therapy. [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Author.

Note: You will access this media from the Walden Library databases. The approximate length of this media piece is 52 minutes.

Assignment 1: 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

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