Assessment Description

Provide examples of how you would use a genogram and what phase of treatment it may be most effective.

TEXTBOOKS

Goldenberg, I., Stanton, M., & Goldenberg, H. (2016).

Family therapy: An overview

(9th ed.). Cengage. ISBN-13: 9781305092969

KarleyLynn BorrasA genogram is a great tool that has been used for many years, allowing for professionals to have a better understanding on the background and records of a family. A genogram is a picture or visual representation that shows a family’s relationship as well as history. It is a great visual tool that allows for not only the clients to be able to see where the stem of their individual relationships within the family are sprouted, however also for the counselor to gain information as well. It allows for the professional as well as clients to see patterns, challenges as well as positive factors from their family history. It is a key tool for helping identify problem areas within the individuals life and point out challenges within the family (Chrzastowski, 2011). Overall, this is a great resource for a counselor to use to better understand some of the sprouting challenges within the family and work towards finding a solution.When working with a family in therapy, the phase in which is probably the more effective stage to use a genogram is the assessment phase. Within this specific stage, the counselor is trying to assess and understand the main point of conflict within the family dynamic. The genogram can help navigate through some of the relationships between the individuals in the family and help discover some important information. Once information is found, the counselor will then start to make plan of action for the family to start working towards recovery.Martha MaldonadoReplies to KarleyLynn BorrasGenograms are graphs of family trees that go back at least three generations to examine the history of the individual or family. This tool can be used in various settings such as counseling, medical, or education. “With the help of a genogram, a counselor can determine which of a patient’s familial relationships are contributing to the patient’s mental well-being and which are detrimental” (Lasky,2018). Goldenberg et al. mention in our textbook that genogram can be very useful if implemented in early counseling sessions.The Alvarez family consists of Luis Alvarez, Maria Alvarez, wife, and two daughters, Hope and Miriam, ages 3 and 4. They are seeking counseling because the couple is constantly arguing. Their main argument consists that Luis thinks Maria is not nurturing enough to the daughters and always prefers to do or be somewhere else that does not include the girls. His wife states he is exaggerating. After attending a couple of sessions, the counselor and exploring some about the family dynamic, the counselor decides to explore more of their past family generation using a genogram. The family enjoys going through each family tree and recalling important events; however, they become emotional in remembering inevitable tragedies. In looking at the visual of the genogram and discussing it, the counselor finds out that Marias’s grandmother had four children and lost a daughter of age five due to an illness. Maria recalls her mother talking about the relationship with her mother and how it changed for the worse when her minor sister passed away. The story repeats itself with Marias’s mother; she also loses a six-year-old daughter due to an accident. Maria recalls how her mother avoided her and her siblings after the accident.After learning about these events, the counselor can help Maria explore thoughts and feelings and how this may be affecting the whole family. Rachael HerbisonReplies to KarleyLynn BorrasOne reason for family therapy is when two families blend through marriage, two people from completely different backgrounds come together. In this example, a Mexican woman raised in a strict Catholic home and a white liberal male American get married, and after two years of marriage realize their conflicts are bigger than they can handle independently and, to remain married, agree to see a marriage counselor. The wife is pregnant with their first child, and they want to have a more united marriage especially once the child comes.           The Rogers have been attending counseling for six months and have learned to practice listening to each other before reacting, and at this point, have agreed to explore deeper into each other’s upbringings and religious and cultural backgrounds that could be affecting their marriage and communication.           The counselor works with the Rogers to create two genograms: a spiritual and religious genogram (Frame, 2000) and a family genogram (Gatfield, 2017). This way, they can look at both the histories, have a visual representation, and piece together how this influences their own family. However, instead of the counselor drawing it up, the counselor encourages them to draw it themselves, with crayons and color pencils so they are tangibly engaging and decorating and interacting with each other in a neutral environment about their families (Gatfield, 2017). When their child is old enough to start understanding, the Rogers can use this to help explain their differences and similarities; as well as offering a visual for the Rogers to look back on and help untangle their thoughts and understandings further down the road.Adding cultural aspects as well can help the counselor understand each of the two better, and help them understand each other, to become more aware, competent and sensitive (Hardy & Laszloffy, 1995)