The Werner family of four consists of mom and dad, married for 25 years; a son (age 14) and a daughter (age 12).

LEARNING RESOURCES

· Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, Jr. G. H. (2018) . Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.

· Chapter 9, “Understanding Families: Family Assessment” (pp. 359–379)

· Chapter 10, “Working with Families” (pp. 384–414)

To Prepare: Read the following case study. Pay close attention to roles of each family member.

The Werner family of four consists of mom and dad, married for 25 years; a son (age 14) and a daughter (age 12). The son is identified as the “client,” as he is having behavioral and academic issues at school. The daughter is a “straight-A” student and receives constant praise from the parents. The parents constantly fight verbally, which is in part due to dad drinking excessively and mom spending excessive amounts of time with her own mother, often relying on her for family advice and financial support.

Post a response to the following:

· Describe two family roles and one boundary violation that would apply to this family.

Respond to two colleagues who identified a different boundary violation. Explain how this would affect working with the family.

RESPONSE1

Role 1- The role of the drinking father. The drinking father behavior of the father is impacting the behavior of the children and causes a big influence on the outcome of the children. (Scholte et al., 2008) It has been shown the relative risks of the study show that the risks of being a regular drinker were higher when participants had a regular drinking family member. ( Scholte et al., 2008)

Role 2- The son who struggle academically and has behavior issues. He is looking at examples of his father which is negatively affecting him.

Boundary violation- Family cohesion and parental nurture.  By the dynamic shown within the family, there is a lack of cohesion that is needed to support their son. Due to the family’s dynamic the parents do not spend enough quality time as a family.

RESPONSE2

Main Post

Describe two family roles and one boundary violation that would apply to this family.

       In this case, the son, who is 14 years old, is the identified patient. He is labeled the “client” because he has behavioral and academic issues at school. The family might unconsciously place an undue focus on his difficulties, which can lead to him becoming the center of attention in therapy or discussions related to family dynamics. This can sometimes mask or divert attention from underlying family issues. The 14-year-old son in the Werner family can also be categorized as the “scapegoat.”

      He is identified as the “client” due to his behavioral and academic issues at school. The family may unfairly blame him for the family’s problems, even if he is not directly responsible. “This role can result in him being singled out and unfairly targeted, potentially leading to frustration, resentment, and low self-esteem” Kirst-Ashman, K. (2017, p.369). The “scapegoat role can harm the son’s well-being and hinder his ability to receive the support and understanding he may need” Kirst-Ashman, K. (2017, p.369). It is essential to address and challenge this dynamic to foster a healthier family environment for him.

      The daughter, who is 12 years old, assumes the role of the “golden child.” She is a “straight-A” student and receives constant praise from her parents. This “role often involves being seen as the ‘perfect’ or ‘successful’ child in the family” DeWitt, H. (2023, March 31). The parents may heap praise and expectations on her, which can create challenges, such as pressure to maintain this high level of achievement.

      “Enmeshment is a boundary violation in family dynamics where there is a lack of clear separation and distinctiveness between individual family members” Kirst-Ashman, K. (2017, p.482). In the case of the Werner family, the mother’s heavy reliance on her mother for advice and financial support exemplifies enmeshment. This dependency blurs the lines of personal identity and autonomy within the family unit. It can “hinder the mother’s ability to make independent decisions and fully engage with her husband and children in a balanced manner” Kirst-Ashman, K. (2017, p.367). This enmeshment contributes to the ongoing verbal conflicts between the parents, as it limits the mother’s capacity to establish healthy boundaries and maintain a sense of self within the family system. Addressing this enmeshment may be a crucial aspect of therapy for the Werner family.

Resources,

DeWitt, H. (2023, March 31).  Golden child syndrome: How does it develop, and what effect does it have?. Thriveworks.  https://thriveworks.com/help-with/children-teens-adolescents/golden-child-syndrome/Links to an external site.

· Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, Jr. G. H. (2018) . Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.

· Chapter 9, “Understanding Families: Family Assessment” (pp. 359–379)

· Chapter 10, “Working with Families” (pp. 384–414)