Choose 2 models of family counseling that were part of the COUN622 curriculum
Identify 2 constructs per model of relevance to you
Apply all 4 constructs to conceptualizing this case.
Marvin is a grade 4 in your school whoâs in-class behavior has recently come to your attention. He has become argumentative with the teacher, refusing to complete his work, and teasing other children. When confronted by the teacher, Marvin explodes into tears and accuses her of not caring about him. In the latest episode, when the teacher tried to comfort him, he struck her several times with his fists, causing observable bruising on her arms. When confronted by the principal, Marvin remains obstinate and, even in the face of corporal punishment or suspension, defies his authority. The school wants to refer Marvin for testing for ADD, hoping that this diagnosis will lead to prescriptions of Ritalin.
As the counselor, you decide to explore Marvin’s behavioral change as a function of family change. Due to Marvin’s conduct up to now, you have not met his parents or family, but these occurrences lead you to ask them to provide some family information. You learn that Marvin’ s father (Ted) and stepmother (Mary) have been married for one year. Ted (35) was previously married to Linda for 11 years and had two children Marvin, and his
10-year-old sister, Vanessa. To hear Ted relate the history, his first marriage dissolved when Linda decided that she didn’t want more children, and, instead, wanted to return to college. Ted felt that children need a mother at home. Eventually, Linda moved out of the family home, moved in with a friend, and returned to university. Ted reports no feelings of attachment to Linda and says that the divorce has worked out fine.
Mary is 33 years old. She left her family home at 17. Her father could not understand her desire to attend university rather than marrying and settling down as her three older sisters had. Mary related that her boyfriend from high school (Fred) proposed on the eve of their high school graduation and that she “created a sceneâ by turning him down. She worried that he would not support her career and independent identity. She worked very hard to earn
a B.S. degree in computer science. In her few visits home, Mary and her parents fight constantly about how her life is turning out. The conflict escalated as her parents discovered her affair with
Ted. The last fight ended with Mary vowing never to speak to them again, her mother in tears, and her father defiantly telling her to leave!! Through her struggle through school and establishing herself in her career, Mary had little time for relationships, promising herself that marriage could always wait.
Ted owns a computer service firm that he boasts of “building from nothing.” He is the only child of William and Ethel. Ted’s father is a take-charge kind of man, always in control, and very certain of his decisions. William is not only the boss at work but also at home. Ethel says that she gets the greatest pleasure in seeing to every need of “her two boys.” Ted had several girl friends in college but his parents dismissed all of them as “below him.” When he finally met Linda, he considered her his “fantasy womanâ, but had a hard time convincing his parents that she was “good enough” for him. While his father seemed more accepting of Linda, his mother always harbored a grudge about her “stealing her sonâ and reminded Ted at the time of his divorce that she had predicted that Linda was no good.
Mary met Ted (her boss) at their workplace about two years before his divorce became final. She said that she felt attracted by his strong sense of self and identity. They became novice and mentor, and as Ted’s marriage deteriorated, became lovers. After Ted’s divorce became final, Mary spent more time with Ted and the children. She felt unsure around them, but Ted re-assured her that after the marriage they would all get along fine.
Two months later, after a week-end honeymoon, Mary moved her furniture and two cats into Ted’s house with his furniture, two dogs, and two children. Vanessa seems to spend a lot of time in her room or with her friends and ignores Mary when she speaks to her. Marvin seems to
oscillate between defending Mary to Vanessa and telling her that “she is not his real mother.” In addition, Mary recently received a call from Ethel telling her that the children don’t love her and
suggesting that the children move in with their grandparents. Yesterday, Linda came to pick up the kids for visitation, but Marvin refused to go. Linda accused Mary of poisoning the children against her and threatening to re-open the custody hearings.
Mary always dreamed of having children and Ted had originally agreed. Due to the conflict at home, Ted has changed his mind. Mary says that he will not even speak to her about this anymore, and down-plays her conflicts with Vanessa and Marvin. Ted says that she
is exaggerating because the children always “mindâ him.
Equipped with this information, you begin to hypothesize about this family as…..