Family Structures and Counseling Interventions - Research Paper Example

Psychology: Family Structures and Counseling Interventions The family I have selected for counseling is the one discussed under the “Til Death Do Us Part” on page 406. It is a blending couple. One of the aspects that suggests that this is a blending couple is the fact that the family consists of two biological children from Pam’s previous marriage. Another aspect that tells that it is a blending couple is that Paul is also divorced and is emotionally attached to his step daughter who is the biological daughter of his former wife because he had raised that child right from her birth.

This couple requires two basic evidence-based intervention strategies, one of them being the training for basic listening and communication skills, and the other one is time management planning. In this case, the family member who is the fundamental cause of trouble is Pam. Pam does not understand Paul’s grief because she did not have to go through all that he is going through because she has her biological children with her. Paul regrets having divorced his former wife but can not share his grief with Pam because whenever he tries to, she loses temper.

Pam does not only misunderstand Paul, she is also negatively perceived by Paul’s former wife. Paul might not have had any problem had his former wife not considered Pam a threat for her daughter. Both individual and group meetings need to be arranged for the clients. First, there should be a group meeting with Pam and Paul. There is no need for Pam’s daughters because they are neither troubled nor troubling others. This meeting should be directed at enhancing Pam’s listening skills and Paul’s communication skills.

Pam needs to be convinced that it will take Paul time to come out of his previous relationship psychologically. After few weeks, there should be an individual meeting with Paul in which he needs to be made aware of the significance of his relationship with his former wife’s daughter. Since Paul is not his biological father nor is he married to her mother anymore, he should practically retreat from any emotional connection with that child in the long run because not only has he lost all rights over her, she may come as a threat to the stability of his new family.

For the time being, a group meeting of Paul and his former wife should be arranged whereby the two should be convinced to settle time and schedule meetings between Paul and his step daughter and their number per week for some time. In an individual meeting, Pam should be convinced that she should let Paul see his step daughter at the scheduled time for some time until Paul stabilizes emotionally. Pam should be made to realize that Paul will be fully available for establishing a family with her not until the materialization of divorce on a psychological level (Textor, 1989, p. 29) and for that, she should let him take his time.

While working with this family, I would have the benefit of broadening my knowledge of counseling a parent how to deal with separation from a stepchild. One challenge that I would encounter is convincing Paul’s former wife to give her daughter to Paul as per the scheduled meetings after he has lost all rights over her by divorcing her. But I would arrange an individual meeting with Paul’s former wife for that. References:Textor, M. R. (1989). The divorce and divorce therapy handbook. London: J. Aronson.