Mendoza, Tricia Hyazinth October 30, 2020

Family Psychotherapy

Perspectives in Family Evaluation

Case 1

The D family came into treatment presenting the complaint that they could not get along with each other

and were contemplating divorce. They gave a history of being in the family therapy several years before. They

had some 20 sessions, which “of course led to nothing.” in discussion with the couple and the former therapist,

it was discovered that the couple had spent most of the sessions blaming each other and attempting to change

each other, rather than making any changes in their relationship or in themselves. In addition, Mr. D, who was

authoritarian, had persuaded the therapist to line up on his side and say that his wife was unreasonable.

As a future psychologist, I would consider using longitudinal approach for this case. It was already

mentioned that they already had some sessions before but it did not work out maybe because there are still some

unresolved issues in the past. I would also consider talking to some of their friends, or people that are close

to them so I can gather more information about their character orientation as individuals and as a family. I

would also like to look if there are some possibilities if one of them have any psychological problems that might

be causing the issues within the family since it was already mentioned that there are some problematic behaviors

during their past sessions like wanting to change each other. And lastly, I would focus on their concrete

behaviors rather than the theoretical understanding so we can address and deal with the consequences right

away. With the choices I have mentioned, I understand that the session might take long but I will see to it that I

will be explaining to the family about it. Since they’ve been in some sessions already and it still did not work, I

think it would benefit them, if we can tap all the possible sources of their issues and try to resolve it so it will not

occur in the future again.

As I’ve mentioned above, I would want to tap all possible sources and for me, assessments are one of

the most important things in therapies. I would schedule our assessments for a couple of sessions. Secondly, I’ll
use both individualized and standardized assessment to gather some data I will be using so I can look deeper

on the dimensions present in the family. Knowing that there is a possibility that one of them might persuade me

just like what Mr. D did with their previous therapist, I will be objective on this case. Empathy might look

different to the couple and they might see it as something else rather being a tool used in the therapy. I would

want to show them that I am not siding on anyone and I am basing on the information that I am gathering from

them. The fifth technical choice point would be to focus on the adults rather than the children since they are the

one mentioned having problems with each other. And I would also want them to talk and say whatever they

think that is needed to say to better understand their actions toward each other.

Case 2

Mrs. E began individual therapy because she felt her husband was inadequate. Her own life had been

replete with difficulties, starting from the time she had lost both parents in automobile accident when she was 2

years old. She had lived in various orphanages, had been in two marriages by the time she was 22, and had

periodic bouts of alcoholism and depression. She felt that her present marriage of 5 years had been “okay” until

she had children. She felt that, although she has difficulty in raising the children, the real problem was in her

husband. She attended individual psychotherapy three times a week, and in course of this began to “see quite

clearly what a loser he was.”

Since Mrs. E, before the therapy was “okay” with the family and only realized that she has problems

with her husband during her therapy, I would want to use the cross-sectional approach for this case rather than

the longitudinal. I will also focus on the family itself rather than including some of their friends since Mrs. E

thinks that the real problem with them is her husband rather than her being a mother. I would want to focus on

how they are as a couple rather than how they are as part of their community or how they are to their friends.

Focusing on their character orientation is another step for me as their therapist. Mrs. E sees her husband as a

loser and I would want them to understand each other as well by looking at their character, personality, and

behaviors. Since Mrs. E is already under individual therapy, and she had experienced some difficult situations

that might contribute to why and how she is feeling towards her family, considering their psychopathologies is
a must for this case. I would also focus on their concrete behaviors and the consequences brought by it so it can

be addressed right away and not cause more issues between them.

Assessment will be a couple of sessions as well, although Mrs. E was already having her individual

therapy, Mr. E on the other side will be new to this and will take some time before he openly communicates

about his feelings towards his wife. Both individualized and standardized assessments will be used, to gather

information that are needed for the therapy. I would also like us to determine what type their family is so they

can better understand what is happening in their relationship. As a therapist, I would be empathic to both of

them and I will focus on the adults since Mrs. E thinks that the problem is between them as a couple rather than

as parents. And I would recommend them to talk, so they would understand where one another is coming from.

Case 3

In the F family, the wife felt that to continue in marital therapy after her recovery from an accurate

psychotic episode might mean that she would go crazy again. She believed that she and her husband would have

to explore their unsatisfactory marriage and that this might lead to separation or divorce. She also felt the she

would have to be strong and powerful to prevent he husband from committing suicide in the same way that his

own father had committed suicide, presumably in relation to having a weak, unsupportive wife. The husband,

for his part, had a very obsessional personality structure with little interpersonal sensitivity or emotional

awareness. He felt angry at psychiatrist and was insecure and threatened by the therapist as a male role model.

As the therapist I would consider using the longitudinal approach since it is already given that there

are some past psychological problems within the family. I would also want to some of their friends, extended

family members, and/or other people that knows them and will be helpful for their therapy sessions. I would

also take consideration of their character orientations since it is evident that both the husband and wife are

having problems with their own characters and more so it is also important to consider their psychopathologies.

I would also like to focus on finding their family theme, since their issues are incorporated with an

intergenerational psychological problem.

 Looking at the case, I think the assessment will not be easy and so the assessment will definitely take

a couple of sessions; both individualized and standardized assessments will be used. I will also take

consideration to the dimensions in the family to better understand the issues. I will also be empathic to them

since they’re going through a lot already. I would focus talking to the adults and encourage them to talk about

how they feel as well.