The Squid and the Whale (2005) directed by Noah Baumbach conceptualization - Case Study Example

Family Origin Stress is the occurrence of a circumstance or circumstances that threaten the well-being of people and puts them in anuncomfortable situation or condition of being threatened by taxing circumstances. Stress is in two parts; positive and negative stress. The stressors do not necessarily increase the risk of occurrence of illness, but they tend to affect human health more when they are chronic, highly disruptive, or uncontrollable. An instance of divorce in the family has brought with it many negative emotions that can have caused stress that has interfered with the ability of my family members to function properly in every day activities.

There were a lot of emotional changes and the behavior of the family members changed. There was a lot of animosity and anxiety as well as tensions. Whenever there is animosity over a divorce, the family becomes disintegrated and divided. However, this type of stress was managed through various methods that included paying attention to the emotional needs, staying active and fit. The management helped in relieving anger and anxiety and also letting go the problems that were beyond our personal control.

The most affected people in the family were the children because we had so much attachment to our parents but on learning that was a planned divorce, attitudes and behavior changed. Another strategy was allowing permission to feel since emotions are normal. Doing things that were emotionally and physically healthy helped us overcome the trauma and experience of divorce. The most important was avoiding making hasty decisions especially after such a traumatizing experience. When the decision came up, we took time to rethink over and over about the consequences.

The social systems theory will be appropriate in explaining the divorce to the parents and to the kids as well. The theory postulates that the society is a composition of different systems that are socially brought together.  According to the social systems theory, everything that human beings do, and every emotion human beings experience involves a concept. The concept in the theory is the one of doing things with affiliation to a group of some organization in the society. The structure of today’s family is in nuclear type that is a system within the main society.

The children and parents will be guided to understand that the resources they have is because of the structures in the society.Basing on the theory and what the family was undergoing, the theory was applicable in a way to prevent the destruction of the family. Divorce in the family had brought a lot of disintegration, and the parents were no longer living together. Through the different counseling therapies and psychological analysis, the family came to terms and accepted the divorce. The framework covered the aspect of divorce well and was able to offer consolation to the family as well as advice that could prevent more destruction of the family.

In order for a counselor to go about this, problem - solving skills is a must know since it is a general coping skill. Problem solving involves training the participants, who are the family members in a general strategy, or set of rules, for identifying and resolving the divorce problem. The method is straight and can be easily understood by the participant, and since the method involves the use of a set of rules, it is flexible and so can be used in a wide variety of situations. A good model used for counseling explains two factors: how the conflicts influence offenders’ actions and behavior.

(Plat et al.). In counseling, one can use the following intervention strategy.(1) Problem recognition Problem recognition involved determining and accepting that the problem existed and which in this sense it was a divorce. As a psychotherapist, one should recognize the problem through a process that includes three essential abilities: the sense of timing that seeks to understand and respect the participants, in terms of values and perceptions. Effective risking is also required which is imparting to the divorcing parents a serious effort to substantially change their attitude. (2) Problem Identification This second step involved gathering enough amounts of information, being concrete, checking the level of accuracy of the available information and also defining the nature of the problem in a precise manner.

Already, as a psychologist, one has been trained to develop therapeutic relationships with the clients (Skeem, 35). In the case here, the clients are the parents and as a counselor, one has been trained to direct clients through active listening, engaging skills, empathy, building trust, and cooperation. The divorcing parents should be engaged in an active participatory interview after the rapport has been created to prevent them from hiding any information that may be helpful to consider when counseling the parents.

As a counselor, a good background check with deeper details on the parents and grandparents history should be done. (3) Considering various approachesThe step is sometimes referred to as “brainstorming,” and it involves coming up with a number of different alternatives without much basis to how good or bad they are. Considering that these are two parents with children, various approaches come into play that includes psychodynamic, humanistic and behavioral approaches. When reviewing the method to begin the approach with, the parents should be able to explain the family financial status or whether the husband is a drug abuser.

The family can also explain whether the husband carries out his responsibilities to the family as a father and as a man. Also, if the husband has extra marital practices or whether the husband has a history of violence should be put into consideration. Did the parents at one time consider that the family needed them together with the kids? Such are the questions that should be asked to get enough information so as to know the most approaching approach to use.(4) Selecting the most promising approachThis step is about considering the likely results of the different options and their application, and choosing the approach that considers positive consequences while reducing negative consequences.

This behavior therapy will focus on the behavior of the parents and aim to help them to modify the unwanted behavior.  According to this approach, the unwanted behavior is the undesired divorce.  Using this approach as a counselor, one ought to identify the unwanted behavior and together work with the parents to change or adapt the divorce. The aim would be that the unwanted behavior stops or is changed in a way that the problem is solved.(5) Assessing the effectiveness of the approach This last step is about implementing the chosen alternative and evaluating its results.

As a counselor here, one will use the skills of listening, clarification, and reflection. They will be used as a process of clarifying and revealing the thoughts and feelings of the parents. The skills will enable the counselor to make an assessment of all the factors that relate to the undesirable character. The assessment will happen more often by visiting the parents and assessing whether their attitude has changed and how they respond and react whenever the topic of divorce is brought up.

REFERENCESDZurilla, T. J., & Goldfield, M. R (2011). Problem Solving and Behavior Modification. Journal of Abnormal Psychology. . Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. U.S.APlatt, J. J., Prout, M. F., & Metzger, D. S. (2010). Interpersonal Problem–Solving Therapy. Cognitive behavioral approaches to psychology. London: Harper & Row Publishers. Britain. Skeem, D. (2010). Violence risk assessment: Correctional psychology, public policy, and law by the American Psychological Association. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group Inc. U.S.A.