I need a responses to both colleague
Respond to at least two colleagues in one of the following ways:
• Compare and contrast your definition of success with a colleague’s definition.
• Provide a resource that might help a couple or family maintain and extend the progress they made in therapy and explain how it could be beneficial.
Colleague 1
Describe what success in couples and family therapy entails and how this might differ from success in individual therapy. In your description, be sure to address specific characteristics you might observe in a successful therapy session or a successful therapy series.
Success in couples and family therapy would look like better communication among them. The ability to work together and increase their system. The family would all be able to express themselves and their frustrations with one another in a calm way and feel heard. When working with an individual we only focus on them and their coping skills and processing their obstacles. While in family therapy we look at everyone as a whole and how each person contributes to the overall family dynamic. A family who comes to me for counseling may enter not seeing each other’s point of view and have minimal to zero communication skills. They may think therapy won’t help and that they just don’t know how to work with each other anymore. A successful session would include everyone expressing their feelings and the others hearing them out. Being able to communicate effectively allows each person to problem-solve the issue and identify a solution.
Compare your current definition of success in therapy with couples and families with your definition from Week 1. Explain which elements of the course shifted, expanded, or reinforced your understanding.
In week one I stated that -Success is enhanced communication and being open and understanding of other’s perspectives. For example, in individual counseling, you would work on your own emotions and coping skills and being able to advocate for your own needs and empower yourself to be strong and resilient. In couples counseling- you need to understand that the other person may not see your side of things all the time. However, finding ways to communicate and agreeing to see other’s perspectives is essential in a functioning relationship. After having done more work throughout this course I believe my perspective has not changed but has been reinforced. Communicating and being self-aware, as well as open to new perspectives is essential for success.
Given that couples and family therapy is often intentionally brief, describe how you would advise a couple or family who has achieved success to maintain and/or extend the progress they have made in therapy.
I believe it is brief as we assist the family in identifying the main issue. We then provide them with the tools to use in their home and work together. Therapy should be brief in this setting to ensure we are not a crutch or scapegoat in the family not working together to solve the issue. If they practice the skills learned such as couple’s dialogue they will normalize that style of communication. Reminding the couple that this tool has worked while in therapy and will continue to work if used appropriately will help them have long-term success.
Colleague 2
Describe what success in couples and family therapy entails and how this might differ from success in individual therapy. In your description, be sure to address specific characteristics you might observe in a successful therapy session or a successful therapy series.
Success in couples and family therapy typically involves improved communication, strengthened relationships, and a more harmonious family dynamic. Specific characteristics include observing open, honest dialogue, collaborative problem-solving, and a willingness to compromise. Couples and families are often seen working together to set shared goals, supporting each other in meeting these, and developing new, healthier interaction patterns.
In individual therapy, success is often measured by personal growth, increased self-awareness, and the ability to better manage emotions and stressors. Sessions might show the client articulating their feelings with greater clarity, utilizing coping strategies effectively, and setting and achieving personal goals.
The difference lies in the collective system versus individual focus, while couples and family therapy emphasize relational healing and understanding, individual therapy focuses more on personal development and inner resilience.
Compare your current definition of success in therapy with couples and families with your definition from Week 1. Explain which elements of the course shifted, expanded, or reinforced your understanding.
Understanding the couple’s dyad and/or family unit as a system and viewing from a holistic approach. Pulling back the layers to formulate goals and formulating a therapeutic plan. I still agree with my analogy of success is to bridge a middle path, to build on the systems’ cohesion, dynamics, boundaries, and communication to name a few aspects I have learned from this course that play key roles in working on the system as hole in couples and family therapy.
Given that couples and family therapy is often intentionally brief, describe how you would advise a couple or family who has achieved success to maintain and/or extend the progress they have made in therapy.
To maintain and extend the progress made in therapy, couples and families can continue to practice the communication skills and conflict resolution strategies they learned during their sessions. Regular check-ins such as intermittent buffer sessions as needed can be facilitated to openly discuss feelings and challenges one faces as life is going to continue with stressors that present themselves and can shift the equilibrium that been achieved and where old patterns can resurface. Additionally, continuing self-reflection and awareness of everyone’s triggers and responses plays a crucial role in sustaining harmony.
