Respond colleagues by providing respectful feedback on their plan for the family session. Identify one to two unique factors in the case that may make planning a session difficult.

Colleague 1

As with any other session with a client, I would get ready for this one by going over the intake form, considering the issues that are being presented, and keeping in mind any objectives that the person has stated they would like to pursue. In order to get ready for any parts of the case that would present learning opportunities for me, I would also want to identify any portions that might be difficult or call for additional discussion or instruction. This will lay the foundation for organizing the meeting. In order to help the social worker elucidate the dynamics at play between the persons engaged as well as their overarching goals, Toseland and Rivas (2017) stress the significance of planning sessions.

In terms of particular inquiries, I would like to find out how each of Stephanie and Sara felt about the circumstances as they stand. When I've asked that of a number of customers, their responses have typically been, "Well, I'm sure you read my file," or "I'm sure my family member/loved one told you everything." I usually always say, "I want to hear what you think about what's going on," in answer to this. After hearing this, customers typically open up more, and I believe this is because it shows them that I genuinely care about their experiences by being willing to listen to their unique tale. In order to help Sara and Stephanie find strategies to work toward these goals and determine if there are any shared goals, I would also like to find out about their individual treatment goals.

According to the intake, Sara and Stephanie don't always see things the same way, and the video seems to suggest that tension as well (Walden University LLC, 2022). Sara probably suffers from a hoarding disorder, which will affect her assessment of her home's state. Stephanie's anxiety just becomes worse since she feels like she can't breathe in such a disorganized house, which makes her angry and frustrated. Helping them find a middle ground and determining whether or not Sara and Stephanie can cooperate to resolve their mutual discomfort will be crucial for the Parkers.

Reference:

Toseland, R. W., & Rivas, R. F. (2017). An introduction to group work practice(8th ed.).Pearson.

Walden University, LLC. (2022). Parker Family case. Social work case studies. [Interactive med

Colleague 2

Unlike a created group, Sara and Stephanie have a long history of deeply entrenched interaction styles and norms (Rasheed et al., 2010). The current tensions and conflicts did not spring up overnight but have been building for a long time (Walden University, 2022). Approaching the family from a developmental viewpoint would allow us to explore multigenerational patterns and unresolved issues that may still impact the relationship (Rasheed et al., 2010). It could be helpful to use a genogram with Sara and Stephanie. This tool would allow us to put both women's experiences in a historical context, which may help them understand one another better (Van Hook, 2019). Additionally, the genogram could help us explore relationships, such as Sara and Stephanie's relationships with Mr. Parker. Alliances and subsystems form within families, but the death of Stephanie's father has likely altered these patterns (Rasheed et al., 2010). Exploring these changes and how they have impacted Sara and Stephanie's dynamics would be essential.

Because Sara and Stephanie have so much conflict and tension between them, I would want to concentrate on developing norms that demonstrate respect and tolerance (Toseland & Rivas, 2017; Walden University, 2022). I would engage them by asking them to brainstorm some rules for our sessions that would help them communicate respectfully. I would also ask questions such as, "How do each of you feel your relationship has changed since Stephanie's father died?" I would ask Sara, "You seem to like collecting things and enjoy your cats. How do these things make you feel? How do they make your life better? What meanings do these things have for you?" If Stephanie can listen without judgment to her mother's thoughts and feelings, she may understand the reasons behind her behaviors. Hopefully, this would alleviate some of the anger. I would also ask Stephanie to describe what it is like for her and how her mother's behaviors impact her. Hopefully, such a conversation could lead to both women understanding each other better. If we could alleviate some of the anger and process some unresolved issues, the women could then focus on finding alternatives and solutions that would work for both of them.

In the video, it did not seem that Stephanie had much hope for progress between her and her mother (Walden, 2022). I expect that this could create challenges and conflict. They have already experienced conflict over Sara's hoarding behaviors, and I expect this to come up in session. There could also be some role confusion at play in the dynamics. The family has aged, and roles have shifted (Rasheed et al., 2010). These changing roles and ambivalence about new roles could contribute to conflict.

References

Rasheed, J. M., Rasheed, M. N., & Marley, J. A. (2010). The ecology of families: A systems/developmental perspective. In Family therapy: Models and techniques (pp. 45-81). Sage. https://waldenu.instructure.com/courses/95509/pages/week-2-learning-resources?module_item_id=3179642

Toseland, R. W., & Rivas, R. F. (2017). An introduction to group work practice (8^th ed.). Pearson.

Van Hook, M. P. (2019). Assessment of families. In Social work practice with families: A resiliency-based approach (3^rd ed., pp. 64-106. Oxford University Press. https://waldenu.instructure.com/courses/95509/pages/week-2-learning-resources?module_item_id=3179642

Walden University, LLC. (2022). Social work case studies. [Interactive media]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com