Family roles and dynamics - Assignment Example

Family roles and dynamics Family roles and dynamics Describe two or more ways that family roles and dynamics interact with substance abuse and addiction, using specific examples. The field of addiction has increased which has become apparent that family structures and dynamics play a significant role in continuation of substance in a family. In addition, substance abuse increases other dysfunctional patterns of behaviors in families such as child abuse, incest, accidental injuries, increased criminal behavior, and domestic violence.

Moreover, many substance abusers within a family have dual diagnosis matter that increase compounds in variables of treatment required for success with the addict or patient and the family. Substance abuse in a family has negative impact on children development in the sense that it impairs children’s social, psychological, and physical development in a manner that may lead to an adult with substance abuse issues. 2. Describe two or more unique characteristics of and/or complications within families of substance abusers, using specific examples.

From the study of family dynamics, it is significant to note that marital partnership would influence children when they enter the family system this is because family growth and homeostasis are organized around the dependent’s person behavior, which implies that children rarely have opportunities for appropriate development. Families of substance abusers as described by Kaufman (1985) are absent, disintegrated, functional, neurotic, and enmeshed. In this manner, enmeshed family is the stereotypical substance family in that it has all the features of an alcoholic family in that children feel uncomfortable in such types of families.

Disintegrated family is the one in which there is separation between the other family members and the abuser. Neurotic family is where the abuser has undergone complete treatment and is ready to stay with other family members in a friendly manner. The relationship between the other family members and the abuser tend to be symbiotic in that these partners are interrelated to an extent that they cannot be separated either emotionally or physically from the drugs of their choice or each other. 3.

Identify and explain two or more potential ethical and legal concerns related to counseling families of substance abusers, using specific examples Counselors experience ethical dilemmas in their work when counseling substance abusers. This is because there is strong relationship between substance abuse and criminal behavior. Further, there are also ethical matters such as informed consent, which can be intricate by troubles emanating out of substance abuse. For instance, patients have the right and freedom to choose whether to remain or enter in a counseling relationship and require adequate data about the counselor and the counseling process.

The counselor needs to handle and cope with these and other matters in that he or she has to weigh the inherent benefits and hazards of various options and formulate a principled and ethical decision. In addition, legal matters are tied to the laws guiding the practice and the civil and criminal laws that can influence the mental health either directly or indirectly. Some laws prohibit certain behaviors such as a counselor engaging in sexual activity with the patient. This can lead to revocation or suspension of the license.

ReferencesAmerican Counseling Association. (2005). ACA code of ethics. New York, NY: American Counseling Association Publisher. Fretz, R., & Gelso, J. (2000). Counseling Psychology. Boston, MA: Brooks Cole.