The Family
A Study of the Complex
Family Structures & the
Problems that Exist

Table of
Contents
Strategies for addressing conflict in

relationships
Positive and negative aspects of divorce
Comparing types of love relationships
Individual and societal influences of singleparent homes
Challenges attributed to blended families
Strategies to assess and intervene in the family system

Strategies for addressing conflict in relationships

Structural Family
Theory:
Focuses on the substructures within the family unit.
Family Systems
Theory:
Focuses on the group rather than individuals that make up the family.

Theories for the Family
Structural Family
Theory
 Conflict is an essential component of family

interaction.
 Barriers may exist among the professional and family.
 Learn the families’ structure and roles.
 What are the rules? Are they overt or covert?
 Observe interaction.
 View the family as a collection of roles.
 Boundaries between subsystems. Are there boundary violations occurring?
 Are the roles complementary/mutually supportive? Do members respect each other’s individuality?
 Is there compromise among each other?
 Is there cross-generational influence that may be affecting the family?

Family Systems Theory
 What are the emotional/intellectual processes?
 What intergenerational influences are present?
 Is there internal conflict between thoughts and
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feelings?
Are members of the family dependent on the other? Is there co-dependency among the family? Is there flexibility/adaptability present?
Is the person capable of learning from experience? Can this individual separate emotions of others?
What are the adaptive levels of functioning?
Can they function under stress?
The ability to reason, analyze, and bring selfawareness is crucial.
Know if there is a third party involved, this can complicate resolution of the conflict.

Divorce
Terminating the Marital
Union
Dissolving the Bonds of
Matrimony
("Divorce," 2015)

Aspects of Divorce
The Negative
 Risk of behavioral problems

among children.
 Adjust to a new residence.
 Visitation restrictions.
 Loss of economic support
 Damaged parental relationships.  Children become possessions.  Children blame themselves.
 One parent instead of two.

The Positive
 Children removed from conflict.
 Co-parenting eases adjustment
 Children may gain positive

relationships through extended family or stepparents
 Children no longer feel in the middle of the conflict or blame themselves  Negative influences such as alcohol abuse or drug use removed Seven Types of Love
Non-Love
Let’s be friends

Infatuation
Love at first sight

Empty Love
Fading love
Romantic Love
Drunken love

Companionate Love
Faithful love
Fatuous Love
Blind love

Consummate Love
True love
(Psychologytalks, 2011)

The Single-Parent Paradigm
Marriage is becoming

obsolete in our society.
Forty percent of new mothers are unmarried.
Single-parent households are far more socially acceptable than in the past.
Women no longer think it is practical to be contingent on the men in their lives
Bad behavior has caused distrust between partners.

The Blended Family
A stepfamily or blended family is a family where one parent has children, from a previous relationship, that are not genetically related to the other parent. ("Blended Family (Step Family)," 2014)

The Challenge’s of Being a Blended
Family
 The Child’s Mother/Father
The Ex-Wife/Husband
 The Conflicting Children
Divide & Conquer
 Who’s Money Is It Really?
Pool the money to run the

new house
 Prepare For The Future
Don’t fight over an

inheritance
 Seek Help When Needed
All couples have problems
("Mining For Gold Marriage", 2014)

Strategies on Intervening With the
Family
Accommodation: the adjustments a

therapist may make to achieve a therapeutic alliance with the family.
Boundary marking: the therapist reinforces appropriate boundaries and diffuses inappropriate