Comparative Psychotherapies - Discussion

Discussions are fundamental to shared learning, so please be sure to participate early and often! After you have completed the Reading, and without reviewing your classmate's responses, post your initial response to the following Discussion. Your post should be at least 300-350 words in length and should extend the discussion of the group supported by your course materials and/or other appropriate resources. After you have submitted your initial post, review some of your classmates' posts, and respond to at least 2 of your classmates. Your responses to others should be at least 100 words in length and substantive. Refer to your Discussion Board Rubric in your Syllabus for specific grading explanation.

Topics

Family Therapy Case Study

For this activity, watch the video: Family Therapy Case Study. Use the information in the scenario to answer the following questions:
Inez and Joseph are a married couple with a 7-year-old son, Leo. Leo is in second grade, but Leo has been refusing to go to school for several weeks. Sometimes, Inez and Joseph are able to coax or force him to go to school, but other times, he stays home the entire day. Almost every school-day morning begins with Leo refusing to get dressed to go to school. Inez and Joseph have been unable to overcome this refusal, and if they try to dress him themselves, he squirms, runs out of the room, cries, and screams. Leo's behavior has caused significant strain on the marriage. Inez and Joseph frequently and intensely argue about the ideal way to handle Leo. Generally, Inez is more sympathetic and concerned about exploring underlying roots of his behavior, whereas Joseph prefers to make hard-and-fast rules or demands that will force Leo to behave more appropriately regarding of any underlying causes. There is significantly more hostility and less warmth in the home since Leo began this behavior, and Inez and Joseph are concerned that the problem is not improving. They seek the help of Dr. Gollum, a clinical psychologist who practices family therapy.

• Which approach to family therapy would be ideal for this family (e.g., structural, solution-focused, Bowenian)? Explain your thoughts and support your choices with aspects of the text or other scholarly sources.

• Is family therapy preferable to other options, such as individual therapy for Leo or parent training for Inez and Joseph? Explain your thoughts and support your choices with aspects of the text or other scholarly sources.

• What would be the most valid measure of psychotherapy outcome for this case? Explain your thoughts and support your choices with aspects of the text or other scholarly sources.